Mineral Names and Information


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Name Formula bookdat Min Wand
               

actinolite Act Ca2(Mg,Fe)5(Si8O22)(OH)2
adularia Adl KAlSi3O8
aegirine Aeg NaFe+3(Si2O6)
akermanite Ak Ca2Mg(Si2O7)
albite Ab Na(AlSi3O8)
alkali feldspar Afs (K,Na)(AlSi3O8)
allanite Aln (Ca,Ce)2(Al,Fe+2,Fe+3)3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
almandine Alm Fe3Al2(SiO4)3
aluminosilicate Als Al2(SiO4)O
alunite Alu KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
amakinite Amk (Fe,Mg)(OH)2
amesite Ame Mg2Al(AlSiO5)(OH)4
amphibole Amp Mineral Group
analcime (analcite) Anl Na(AlSi2O8)·HO
anatase Ant TiO2
andalusite And Al2(SiO4)O
andradite Adr Ca3Fe+32(SiO4)3
anglesite Ang PbSO4
anhydrite Anh CaSO4
ankerite Ank Ca(Fe,Mg,Mn)(CO3)2
annite Ann KFe3(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2
anorthite An Ca(Al2Si2O8)
anorthoclase Ano (Na,K)(AlSi3O8)
anthophyllite Ath Mg2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
antigorite Atg Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
apatite Ap Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
apophyllite Apo KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH)·8H2O
aragonite Arg CaCO3
arfvedsonite Arf NaNa2[(Fe+2>,Mg)4Fe+3](Si8O22)(OH)2
armalcolite Arm (Mg,Fe)Ti2O5
arsenopyrite Apy FeAsS
augite Aug (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)[(Al,Si)2O6]
awaruite Awr Ni2Fe‒Ni3Fe
axinite Ax (Ca,Fe,Mn)3Al2(BO3)(Si4O12)(OH)
babingtonite Bab Ca2(Fe+2,Mn)Fe+3[(Si5O14)(OH)]
baddeleyite Bdy ZrO2
barite Brt BaSO4
barroisite Brs [NaCa][(Mg,Fe)3Al2](AlSi7O22)(OH)2
beidellite Bei (Ca0.5, Na)0.3Al2[(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2·nH2O
beryl Brl Be3Al2(Si6o18)
biotite Bt Mica Group
bixbyite Bxb (Mn+3,Fe+3)2O3
boehmite (böhmite) Bhm AlO(OH)
bornite Bn Cu5FeS4
brookite Brk TiO2
brucite Brc Mg(OH)2
bustamite Bst (Mn,Ca)3(Si3O9)
calcite Cal CaCO3
cancrinite Ccn (Na,Ca)8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3,SO4)2·H2O
carbonate mineral Cb Mineral Type
carpholite Car MnAl2(Si2O6)(OH)4
cassiterite Cst SnO2
celadonite Cel K(Mg,Fe+2)(Fe+3,Al)(Si4O10)(OH)2
celestine Clt SrSO4
celsian Cls BaAl2(Si2O8)
cerussite Cer PbCO3
chabazite Cbz (Ca,K2,Na2)2(Al2Si4O12)2·12H2O
chalcocite Cct Cu2S
chalcopyrite Ccp CuFeS2
chamosite Chm (Fe, Mg)5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH,O)8
chesterite Chs (Mg, Fe)17(Si20O54)(OH)6
chlorite Chl Mineral Group
chloritoid Cld (Fe,Mg,Mn)Al2(SiO4)O(OH)2
chondrodite Chn Mg5(SiO4)2(F,OH)2
chromite Chr FeCr2O4
chrysocolla Ccl (Cu,Al)2H2(Si2O5)(OH)4·nH2O
chrysotile Ctl Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
cinnabar Cin HgS
clinoamphibole Cam Amphibole Group
clinochlore Clc Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
clinoenstatite Cen Mg2(Si2O6)
clinoferrosilite Cfs Fe2(Si2O6)
clinohumite Chu Mg9(SiO4)4(F,OH)2
clinoptilolite Cpt (Na,K,Ca)2‒3[Al3(Al,Si)2Si13O36]·12H2O
clinopyroxene Cpx Pyroxene Group
clinozoisite Czo Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
clintonite Cln Ca(Mg, Al)3(Al3SiO10)(OH)2
coesite Coe SiO2
cohenite Coh (Fe,Ni,Co)3C
cordierite Crd (Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
corrensite Crr (Ca,Na,K)(Mg,Fe,Al)9[(Si,Al)8O20](OH)10·nH2O
corundum Crn Al2O3
covellite Cv CuS
cristobalite Crs SiO2
crossite Crt Discontinued Amphibole Name
cryolite Crl Na3AlF6
cubanite Cbn CuFe2S3
cummingtonite Cum Mg2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
cuprite Cpr Cu2O
cuspidine Csp Ca4(Si2O7)(F,OH)2
daphnite Dph (Fe,Mg)5Al[(Si,Al)4O10](OH)8
datolite Dat CaB(SiO4)(OH)
daubreelite Dbr FeCr2S4
deerite Dee (Fe+2, Mn)6(Fe+3, Al)3(Si6O18)O2(OH)5
diamond Dia C
diaspore Dsp AlO(OH)
dickite Dck Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
digenite Dg Cu9S2
diopside Di CaMg(Si2O6)
dioptase Dpt Cu(SiO3)·H2O
dolomite Dol CaMg(CO3)2
dravite Drv NaMg3Al6(BO3)3(Si6O18)(OH)4
dumortierite Dum Al7(BO3)(SiO4)3O3
eastonite Eas KMg2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2
ecandrewsite Ec (Zn,Fe,Mg)TiO3
eckermannite Eck NaNa2(Mg4Al)(Si8O22)(OH)2
edenite Ed NaCa2Mg5(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
elbaite Elb Na(Al,Li)3Al6(BO3)3(Si6O18)(OH)4
ellenbergerite Ell Mg6TiAl6Si8O28(OH)10
enargite Eng Cu3AsS4
enstatite En Mg2(Si2O6)
epidote Ep Ca2Al2(Fe+3,Al)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
erionite Eri (K2,Ca,Na2)2(Al4Si14O36)·15H2O
eskolaite Esk Cr2O3
esseneite Ess CaFe+3(AlSiO6)
eudialite Eud Na4(Ca,Ce)2(Fe,Mn)Zr(Si8O22)(OH,Cl)2
fassaite Fas Ca(Mg,Fe,Al)[(Al,Si)2O6)
fayalite Fa Fe2(SiO4)
feldspar Fsp Mineral Group
ferro-actinolite Fac Ca2(Fe,Mg)5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ferro-anthophyllite Fath (Fe2)(Fe5)(Si8O22)(OH)2
ferrobarroisite Fbrs [NaCa][(Fe,Mg)3Al2](AlSi7O22)(OH)2
ferrocarpholite Fcar (Fe, Mg)Al2(Si2O6)(OH)4
ferroceladonite Fcel K(Fe+2,Mg)(Fe+3,Al)(Si4O10)(OH)2
ferro-eckermannite Fec NaNa2(Fe4Al)(Si8O22)(OH)2
ferro-edenite Fed NaCa2(Fe,Mg)5(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
ferrogedrite Fgd (Fe,Mg)2[(Fe,Mg)3Al2](Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
ferroglaucophane Fgl Na2[(Fe,Mg)3Al2](Si8O22)(OH)2
ferrokaersutite Fkrs NaCa2[(Fe,Mg)4Ti](Si6Al2O22)(OH)2
ferronybøite Fny NaNa2(Fe3Al2)(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
ferropargasite Fprg NaCa2[(Fe,Mg)4Al](Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
ferrorichterite Frct Na[NaCa](Fe, Mg)5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ferrosilite Fs (Fe,Mg)2(Si2O6)
ferrotschermakite Fts Ca2[(Fe,Mg)3Al2](Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
ferrowinchite Fwn (CaNa)[Fe4(Al,Fe+3)](Si8O22)(OH)2
fibrolite Fi Al2(SiO4)O
fluorite Fl CaF2
forsterite Fo Mg2(SiO4)
foshagite Fos Ca4(Si3O9)(OH)2
franklinite Frk (Zn,Mn+2,Fe+2)(Fe+3, Mn+3)2O4
fullerite Ful C60
gahnite Ghn ZnAl2O4
galaxite Glx (Mn+2,Fe+2,Mg)(Al,Fe+3)2O4
galena Gn PbS
garnet Grt Mineral Group
gedrite Ged (Mg,Fe)5Al2(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
gehlenite Gh Ca2Al(AlSiO7)
geikielite Gk MgTiO3
gibbsite Gbs Al(OH)3
gismondine Gis Ca2Al4(Si4O16)·9H2O
glauconite Glt (K,Na)(Fe+3,Al,Mg)2[(Al,Si)4O10](OH)2
glaucophane Gln (Na2)(Mg3Al2)(Si8O22)(OH)2
gmelinite Gme (Na2,Ca)Al2(Si4O12)·6H2O
goethite Gth α‒FeO(OH)
grandidierite Gdd (Mg,Fe)Al3(BO3)(SiO4)O2
graphite Gr C
greenalite Gre (Fe+2, Fe+3)2‒3(Si2O5)(OH)4
grossular Grs Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
grunerite Gru (Fe2)(Fe5)(Si8O22)(OH)2
gypsum Gp CaSO4·2H2O
halite Hl NaCl
harmotome Hrm (Ba, K)1‒2[(Si,Al)8O16]·6H2O
hastingsite Hst NaCa2(Fe+24Fe+3)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
hausmannite Hsm (Mn+2, Mn+3)2O4
haüyne Hyn (Na,K)3(Ca,Na)(Al3Si3O12)(SO4,S,Cl)
heazlewoodite Hzl Ni3S2
hedenbergite Hd CaFe(Si2O6)
hematite Hem Fe2O3
hercynite Hc FeAl2O4
heulandite Hul (Ca,Na2)(Al2Si7O18)·6H2O
hibonite Hbn (Ca,Ce,La)(Al,Ti,Mg)12O19
hibschite Hbs Ca3Al2(SiO4)3-x(OH)4x   x=(0.2-1.5)
högbomite Hgb (Mg,Fe)2(Al,Ti)5O10
hollandite Hol Ba(Mn+4, Mn+3)8O16
holmquistite Hlm (Li2)(Mg3Al2)(Si8O22)(OH)2
hornblende Hbl General Amphibole Name
howieite Hw Na(Fe,Mn)10(Fe+3,Al)2Si12O31(OH)13
humite Hu Mg7(SiO4)3(F,OH)2
hydrogrossular Hgr Water-bearing Garnet
hypersthene Hyp (Mg,Fe)2(Si2O6)
illite Ilt (K,H3O)(Al,Mg,Fe)2[(Si,Al)4O10][(OH)2·(H2O)]
ilmenite Ilm FeTiO3
ilvaite Ilv CaFe2+2Fe+3O(Si2O7)(OH)
jadeite Jd Na(Al,Fe+3)(Si2O6)
jarosite Jrs KFe+33(SO4)2(OH)6
jimthompsonite Jim (Mg,Fe)5(Si6O16)(OH)2
johannsenite Jhn CaMn+2(Si2O6)
kaersutite Krs NaCa2[(Mg,Fe)4Ti](Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
kalsilite Kls KAl(SiO4)
kamacite (α-FeNi) Kam (Fe,Ni)
kaolinite Kln Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
katophorite Ktp Na[NaCa][(Fe,Mg)4Al](AlSi7O22)(OH)2
K-feldspar Kfs Feldspar Group
K-hollandite Khl KAlSi3O8
kirschsteinite Kir CaFe(SiO44)
kornerupine Krn (Mg,Fe)4Al6[(Si, Al, B)5O21](OH)
kosmochlor Kos NaCr+3(SiO6)
kutnohorite (kutnahorite) Kut Ca(Mn, Mg, Fe)(CO3)2
kyanite Ky Al2(SiO4)O
larnite Lrn Ca2(SiO4)
laumontite Lmt CaAl2(Si4O12)·4H2O
lawsonite Lws CaAl2(Si2O7)(OH)2· H2O
lazulite Lzl MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2
lazurite Lzr Na6Al2(Al6Si6O24)[SO4,S,Cl,(OH)]2
lepidolite Lpd K(Li,Al)3[(Al,Si)4O10](OH,F)2
leucite Lct KAl(Si2O6)
limonite Lm FeO(OH)·nH2O
liquid Liq
lizardite Lz Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
löllingite (loellingite) Lo FeAs2
maghemite Mgh Fe2O3
magnesio-arfvedsonite Marf Na(Na2)(Mg4Fe+3)(Si8O22)(OH)2
magnesiocarpholite Mcar MgAl(Si2O6)(OH)4
magnesioferrite Mfr MgFe+32O4
magnesiohastingsite Mhs NaCa2[(Mg,Fe)4Fe+3](Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
magnesiohornblende Mhb Ca2[(Mg,Fe)4Al](AlSi7O22)(OH)2
magnesiokatophorite Mkt Na[NaCa][(Mg,Fe)4Al](AlSi7O22)(OH)2
magnesioriebeckite Mrbk Na2(Mg3Fe+32)(Si8O22)(OH)2
magnesiosadanagaite Msdg Na(Ca2)(Mg3Al2)(Al3Si5O22)(OH)2
magnesiostaurolite Mst Mg(Mg,Li)3(Al,Mg)18(Si8O44)(OH)4
magnesiotaramite Mtm Na(CaNa)(Mg3AlFe+3)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
magnesiowustite Mws (Mg,Fe)O
magnesite Mgs MgCO3
magnetite Mag Fe+2Fe+32O4
majorite Maj Mg3(Fe,Al,Si)2(SiO4)3
malachite Mlc Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
manganosite Mng MnO
marcasite Mrc FeS2
margarite Mrg CaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2
marialite Mar Na(AlSi3O8)·NaCl
meionite Mei Ca(Al2Si2O8)·CaCO3
melilite Mll (Ca,Na)2(Al,Mg,Fe)[(Al,Si)SiO7]
merwinite Mw Ca3Mg(SiO4)2
mesolite Mes Na2Ca2Al6Si9O30·8H2O
microcline Mc K(AlSi3O8)
millerite Mlr NiS
minnesotaite Mns Fe3(Si4O10)(OH)2
moganite Mog SiO2
molybdenite Mol MoS2
monazite Mnz (Ce, La, Nd, Td)PO4
monticellite Mtc CaMg(SiO4)
montmorillonite Mnt (Na, Ca)0.3(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2·nH2O
mordenite Mor (Ca, Na2,K2)(Al2Si10O24)·7H2O
mullite Mul Al6Si2O13
muscovite Ms KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2
natrolite Ntr Na2(Al2Si3O10)·2H2O
nepheline Nph (Na,K)(AlSiO4)
norbergite Nrb Mg3(SiO4)(F,OH)2
nosean Nsn Na8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)·H2O
nybøite Nyb NaNa2(Mg3Al2)(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
olivine Ol Mineral Group
omphacite Omp (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)(Si2O6)
opal Opl (SiO2)·nH2O
opaque mineral Opq Mineral Type
orpiment Orp As2S3
orthoamphibole Oam Amphibole Group
orthoclase Or K(AlSi3O8)
orthoenstatite Oen Mg2(Si2O6)
orthopyroxene Opx Pyroxene Group
osumilite Osm (K,Na)(Fe,Mg)2(Al,Fe+3)3[(Si,Al)12O30]
palygorskite Plg (Mg,Al)2(Si4O10)(OH)·4H2O
paragonite Pg NaAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
pargasite Prg NaCa2(Mg4Al)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
pectolite Pct NaCa2H(SiO3)3
pentlandite Pn (Fe,Ni)9S8
periclase Per MgO
perovskite Prv CaTiO3
petalite Ptl Li(AlSi4O10)
phase A PhA Mg7Si2O8(OH)6
phengite Ph Mica Group
phillipsite Php (K,Na,Ca)1‒2[(Si,Al)8O16]·6H2O
phlogopite Phl KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
piemontite Pmt Ca2(Al,Mn+3, Fe+3)3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
pigeonite Pgt (Mg,Fe,Ca)(Mg,Fe)(Si2O6)
plagioclase Pl Feldspar Group
prehnite Prh Ca2Al2(Si3O10)(OH)2
prismatine Prm (Fe,Mg)(Mg,Al,Fe)5Al4Si2(Si,Al)2
(B,Si,Al)(O,OH,F)22
pseudobrookite Psb Fe2TiO5
pumpellyite-(Fe+2) Pmp Ca2(Fe,Mg)Al2(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH,O)2·H2O
pyrite Py FeS2
pyrochlore Pcl (Ca,Na)2Nb2O6(OH, F)
pyrope Prp Mg3Al3(SiO4)3
pyrophanite Pph MnTiO3
pyrophyllite Prl Al2(Si4O10)(OH)2
pyroxferroite Pxf (Fe,Mn,Ca)(SiO3)
pyroxmangite Pxm Mn(SiO3)
pyrrhotite Po Fe(1‒X)S (X = 0 to 0.17)
qandilite Qnd (Mg, Fe)2(Ti, Fe+3, Al)O4
quartz Qz SiO2
rankinite Rnk Ca(Si2O7)
realgar Rlg AsS
rhodochrosite Rds MnCO3
rhodonite Rdn (Mn,Fe,Mg,Ca)(SiO3)
richterite Rct Na(NaCa)(Mg5)(Si8O22)(OH)2
riebeckite Rbk Na2(Fe+23Fe+32)(Si8O22)(OH)2
ringwoodite Rwd (Mg,Fe)2(SiO4)
roedderite Rdr (Na,K)2(Mg,Fe)5Si12O30
rossmanite Rsm (LiAl2)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)4
rutile Rt TiO2
sadanagaite Sdg Na(Ca2)(Mg3Al2)(Al3Si5O22)(OH)2
sanidine Sa (K,Na)(AlSi3O8)
saponite Sap (Ca0.5, Na)0.3(Mg,Fe)3[(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2·4H2O
sapphirine Spr (Al,Mg)8(Al,Si)6O20
scapolite Scp Mineral Group
scheelite Sch CaWO4
schorl Srl NaFe3Al6(BO3)3(Si6O18)(OH)4
schreibersite Scb (Fe,Ni)3P
sepiolite Sep Mg4(Si6O15)(OH)2·6H2O
sericite Ser Fine-grained white mica
serpentine Srp Mineral Group
siderite Sd FeCO3
sillimanite Sil Al2(SiO4)O
smectite Sme Clay Mineral Group
sodalite Sdl Na8Al6(Si6O24)Cl2
spessartine Sps Mn3Al2(SiO4)3
sphalerite Sp (Zn,Fe)S
sphene (titanite) Spn CaTi(SiO5)
spinel Spl MgAl2O4
spodumene Spd Li(AlSi2O6)
spurrite Spu Ca5(SiO4)2(CO3)
staurolite St (Fe,Mg)2Al9[Si4O16]O7(OH)
stevensite Stv (Ca0.5,Na)0.3Mg3(Si4O10)(OH)2
stilbite Stb NaCa2Al5Si13O36·14H2O
stilpnomelane Stp K(Fe+2,Mg,Fe+3)8(Si,Al)12
(O,OH)27·nH2O
stishovite Sti SiO2
strontianite Str SrCO3
sudoite Sud Mg2Al3(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
sylvite Syl KCl
taenite (γ-Fe,Ni) Tae (Fe,Ni)
talc Tlc Mg3(Si4O10)(OH)2
taramite Trm Na(CaNa)(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
tennantite Tnt (Cu,Ag,Zn,Fe)12As2S13
tenorite Tnr CuO
tephroite Tep Mn2(SiO4)
tetrahedrite Ttr (Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)12Sb4S13
thomsonite Thm NaCa2(Al5Si5O20)·6H2O
thorite Thr (Th,U)(SiO4)
tilleyite Tly Ca5(Si2O7)(CO3)2
titanite (sphene) Ttn CaTi(SiO5)
topaz Tpz Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2
tourmaline Tur Mineral Group
tremolite Tr Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
tridymite Trd SiO2
troilite Tro FeS2
tschermakite Ts (Ca2)(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
ulvöspinel Usp TiFe2O4
uraninite Urn UO2
uvarovite Uv Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3
vaterite Vtr CaCO3
vermiculite Vrm (Mg,Fe+3, Al)3[(Si,Al)4O10](OH)2· 4H2O
vesuvianite Ves Ca10Mg2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4
wadsleyite Wds β‒(Mg,Fe)2(SiO4)
wagnerite Wag (Mg,Fe)2(PO4)F
wairakite Wrk CaAl2(Si4O12)·2H2O
wavellite Wav Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3·5H2O
whitlockite Wht Ca9(Mg,Fe)(PO4)6(PO3OH)
willemite Wlm Zn2(SiO4)
winchite Wnc (CaNa)(Mg4Al)(Si8O22)(OH)2
witherite Wth BaCO3
wollastonite Wo Ca(SiO3)
wurtzite Wur (Zn,Fe)S
wüstite Wus FeO
xenotime Xtm YPO4
xonotlite Xon Ca6(Si6O17)(OH)2
yugawaralite Yug CaAl2(Si6O16)·4H2O
zeolite Zeo Mineral Group
zinnwaldite Znw KLiFeAl(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2
zircon Zrn Zr(SiO4)
zoisite Zo Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)

The minerals on this list of rock-forming mineral names and abbreviations are those chosen by Donna Whitney and Bernard Evans (2010) in their paper on mineral abbreviations that updated and expanded the list by Ralph Kretz (1983). Chemical formulas have been added as well as links to online information about the minerals on the following websites:

  • Handbook of Mineralogy: (1990-2003) by John W. Anthony, Richard A. Bideaux, Kenneth W. Bladh, and Monte C. Nichols, originally published by Mineral Data Publishing, now available >online through the Mineralogical Society of America.
  • mindat.org: An online mineral information database published by The Hudson Institute of Mineralogy founded by Joylan Ralph.
  • webmineral.com: An online mineral information database created and maintained by David Barthelmy.
  • Wikiwand Minerals: A modern reader of Wikipedia with a large mineral information database.

    • Use the slider on the right or your browser's "Find" command (command F on a Mac) to locate a mineral. Click on the color-coded buttons on the right to open a window with information for the selected mineral on one of the four websites listed above.

    Special thanks to Isabel Ahlstrom for coding the formulas and assembling the many links on this page!  

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