Actinolite – Green amphibole found in metamorphic rocks.
Agate – Banded chalcedony with colourful layers.
Almandine – Deep red garnet variety.
Amazonite – Green microcline feldspar.
Amethyst – Purple quartz coloured by iron.
Anatase – Blue‑black titanium oxide.
Andalusite – Square‑section crystals; includes chiastolite.
Anhydrite – Hard, water‑free form of gypsum.
Apatite – Phosphate mineral common in igneous rocks.
Apophyllite – Clear, glassy crystals with perfect cleavage.
Aquamarine – Blue‑green beryl coloured by iron.
Aragonite – Needle‑forming polymorph of calcite.
Azurite – Deep blue copper carbonate.
Barite – Very heavy sulphate mineral.
Biotite – Dark brown to black mica.
Bornite – Iridescent copper ore (“peacock ore”).
Calcite – Soft carbonate; reacts with acid.
Cassiterite – Tin oxide; brown to black.
Celestine – Pale blue strontium sulphate.
Chabazite – Orange to white zeolite.
Chalcedony – Microcrystalline quartz with waxy texture.
Chalcopyrite – Brass‑yellow copper‑iron sulphide.
Chlorite – Green, soft metamorphic mineral.
Chrysocolla – Blue‑green copper silicate.
Chrysotile – Fibrous serpentine; common asbestos type.
Cinnabar – Red mercury sulphide.
Citrine – Yellow to orange quartz.
Copper – Native metal; reddish and oxidises green.
Corundum – Very hard aluminium oxide; ruby and sapphire.
Dolomite – Calcium‑magnesium carbonate.
Epidote – Pistachio‑green silicate.
Elbaite – Colourful gem tourmaline.
Emerald – Green chromium‑rich beryl.
Fluorite – Colourful mineral that fluoresces.
Galena – Lead sulphide; metallic and very dense.
Garnet – Hard silicate; red, brown, green, or orange.
Goethite – Brown iron hydroxide.
Gold – Native metal; soft, bright, and dense.
Gypsum – Soft sulphate; forms selenite crystals.
Halite – Rock salt; forms cubic crystals.
Hematite – Iron oxide; metallic grey or red.
Heliodor – Yellow beryl.
Heulandite – Zeolite with pearly lustre.
Ilmenite – Black iron‑titanium oxide.
Jasper – Opaque chalcedony with earthy colours.
Kaolinite – Soft white clay mineral.
Kyanite – Blue bladed mineral with variable hardness.
Labradorite – Feldspar with iridescent colours.
Lapis Lazuli – Blue metamorphic rock with pyrite flecks.
Lepidolite – Purple lithium‑rich mica.
Lepidocrocite – Reddish iron hydroxide.
Limonite – Yellow‑brown iron oxide mixture.
Magnetite – Magnetic iron oxide.
Malachite – Green copper carbonate with bands.
Marcasite – Pale, brittle iron sulphide.
Microcline – Greenish feldspar; includes amazonite.
Mica – Sheet mineral that splits into thin layers.
Molybdenite – Soft metallic molybdenum sulphide.
Montmorillonite – Swelling clay mineral.
Morganite – Pink beryl.
Muscovite – Clear to silvery mica.
Natrolite – Needle‑like zeolite crystals.
Obsidian – Volcanic glass; black and sharp.
Olivine – Green mineral common in basalts.
Onyx – Black‑and‑white banded chalcedony.
Opal – Hydrated silica with internal colour play.
Orthoclase – Pink potassium feldspar.
Peridot – Gem‑quality olivine.
Plagioclase – Striated sodium‑calcium feldspar.
Prehnite – Pale green, botryoidal mineral.
Pyrite – Iron sulphide; brassy “fool’s gold.”
Pyrope – Dark red garnet.
Quartz – Hard, glassy mineral common in many rocks.
Realgar – Red arsenic sulphide; light‑sensitive.
Rhodochrosite – Pink manganese carbonate.
Rhodonite – Pink manganese silicate with black veins.
Rutile – Titanium oxide; forms needle inclusions.
Ruby – Red chromium‑rich corundum.
Sapphire – Blue or coloured corundum.
Scheelite – Tungsten mineral that fluoresces blue.
Schorl – Black tourmaline.
Selenite – Clear gypsum variety.
Serpentine – Green, waxy metamorphic mineral.
Siderite – Iron carbonate.
Silver – Native metal; tarnishes easily.
Sillimanite – Fibrous high‑temperature mineral.
Smithsonite – Zinc carbonate; pastel colours.
Smoky Quartz – Brown to black quartz.
Sodalite – Blue feldspathoid mineral.
Sphalerite – Zinc sulphide; resinous to metallic.
Spinel – Hard oxide; red, blue, or black.
Staurolite – “Fairy cross” twinned crystals.
Stilbite – Peach‑coloured zeolite with sheaf‑like crystals.
Talc – Softest mineral; greasy feel.
Tanzanite – Blue‑violet zoisite.
Tiger’s Eye – Fibrous quartz with chatoyancy.
Titanite (Sphene) – Wedge‑shaped crystals with high lustre.
Topaz – Hard silicate; often blue, yellow, or clear.
Tourmaline – Multicoloured borosilicate.
Turquoise – Blue‑green copper phosphate.
Vanadinite – Bright red hexagonal crystals.
Wolframite – Tungsten ore; heavy and dark.
Wulfenite – Thin orange lead molybdate crystals.
Zircon – Hard silicate; often brown or red.
Zoisite – Includes tanzanite; prismatic crystals.