Limonite
LIMONITE

The Mineraloids Class

Mercury
MERCURY
Precious Opal
OPAL
OBSIDIAN
TEKTITE
Amber
AMBER

  Like: Share:  

The members of the (unofficial) Mineraloids Class are often mistaken for minerals and are sometimes classified as minerals, but lack the necessary crystalline structure to be truly classified as such. Pearl, jet and amber are in addition the products of organic process that further remove them from full mineral status. These materials are found naturally, some are treated as gemstones and are included in most mineral references (which is why we decided to include them here!).

Some of these are included elsewhere even though they are not considered proper minerals (exactly why is listed below).

  • Amber (Succinite - fossilized tree resin)
  • Jet (Very Compact Coal)
  • lechatelierite (Nearly Pure Silica Glass)
  • Limonite (A Mixture of Oxides)
  • Mercury (A Liquid at Normal Temperatures)
  • Obsidian (Volcanic Silica Glass)
  • Opal (Hydrated Silica)
  • Pearl (Organicly Produced Carbonate)
  • Tektites (Meteoritic Silica Glass)
Members of the Mineraloids Class (not recognized minerals)




 


Copyright ©1995-2023 by Amethyst Galleries, Inc.