Complete with photos and information about each mineral’s distinguishing characteristics, this mineral identification guide has been designed to assist you in identifying the minerals provided in the Deeper and Deeper and Mining Matters II kits.
This guide also includes information about each mineral’s physical characteristics, the location from where they were collected and their uses in everyday life.
Year after year in-kind contributors from the mineral and aggregate industries provide valuable resources for our educational units. The sheer number and variety of rock and mineral samples required for the production of the units is immense. More than 60 samples representing 25 different types of metallic and industrial minerals, aggregates and the three main rock groups – igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic – are required for each kit. The organization relies greatly on their industry partners, resident geologists from the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and a crew of students to aid in the collection and sizing of samples. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many in-kind contributors for their on-going support.
Amethyst
Colour: purple
Hardness: 7
Streak: white/colourless
Lustre: vitreous (glassy)
Magnetic: no
Conductive: no
Cleavage: none, it fractures like glass
Relative Density: 2.65
Distinguishing Characteristic: purple colour
Origin of your Samples: North shore of Lake Superior near Thunder Bay, Ontario
Other Occurrences: Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico and Russia
Uses: Amethyst is valued for its beauty, rarity, reflective nature and durability. Amethyst is Ontario’s mineral emblem and the birthstone of February. It is used for gemstones, mineral specimens and decorative pieces.
Barite
Colour: white with a hint of pink
Hardness: 3-3.5
Streak: white
Lustre: vitreous (glassy), pearly
Magnetic: no
Conductive: no
Cleavage: poor
Relative Density: 4.5
Distinguishing Characteristic: unexpectedly heavy
Origin of your Samples: Shining Tree, Ontario (between Timmins and Sudbury)
Other Occurrences: Oklahoma, Connecticut and Colorado in the USA, England and Germany.
Uses: Because of its high density, barite is used as a filler in the manufacture of plastics and rubber. Ground barite is also found in chemicals, explosives, drilling mud and is used in medical imaging.
Barite samples courtesy of Extender Minerals of Canada.
Calcite
Colour: beige, off-white and white
Hardness: 3
Streak: white
Lustre: vitreous (glassy)
Magnetic: no
Conductive: no
Cleavage: good – observe calcite’s cleavage by holding the mineral up to the light and turning it slowly to see the slick, flashy surface where light reflects off the sample
Relative Density: 2.7
Distinguishing Characteristic: flat, glassy cleavage surfaces, effervesces with hydrochloric acid, can be scratched with a penny.
Origin of your Samples: Bancroft, Ontario
Other Occurrences: USA, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, England, India, Iceland and Africa.
Uses: Calcite is crucial in the manufacture of fertilizers, metals, glass, rubber, and paint. It is the primary ingredient of cement and is used in the production of pharmaceuticals.
Calcite samples courtesy of the Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
Chalcopyrite
Colour: brassy yellow/green
Hardness: 3.5-4, Streak: green-black
Lustre: metallic
Magnetic: no
Conductive: yes
Cleavage: none
Relative Density: 4.2
Distinguishing Characteristic: Conductive
Origin of your Samples: Timmins, Ontario
Other Occurrences: Chile, Peru, Mexico, Europe, South Africa and USA
Uses: Chalcopyrite is the primary ore of copper. Copper is used in electrical wires, plumbing pipes, coins, kitchen appliances – just to name a few.
Chalcopyrite samples courtesy of Kidd Creek Mine operated by Falconbridge Ltd.
Feldspar
Colour: pink
Hardness: 6
Streak: white/colourless
Lustre: vitreous (glassy)
Magnetic: no
Conductive: no
Cleavage: good - observe feldspar’s cleavage by holding the mineral up to the light and turning it slowly to see the slick, flashy surface where light reflects off the sample
Relative Density: 2.5
Distinguishing Characteristics: pink colour and cleavage
Origin of your Samples: Bancroft, Ontario
Other Occurrences: USA, Russia, Norway and Madagascar
Uses: Feldspar is used in porcelain and is largely collected as mineral specimens.
Feldspar samples courtesy of the Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
Gypsum
Color: white, colorless or grey
Hardness: 2 (can be scratched by a fingernail)
Streak: white
Lustre: vitreous to pearly
Magnetic: no
Conductive: no
Cleavage: good – but not visible
Relative Density: 2.3
Distinguishing Characteristic: soft, but not as soft as talc
Origin of your Samples: Hagersville, Ontario
Other Occurrences: Mexico, Sicily, and Utah and Colorado in the USA
Uses: Gypsum is used to make chalk, drywall, plaster, cement, caulking and paints.
Gypsum samples courtesy of Canadian Gypsum Company (CGC) Inc.
Halite
Colour: colourless
Hardness: 2
Streak: white
Lustre: vitreous (glassy)
Magnetic: no
Conductive: no
Cleavage: good - observe halite’s cleavage planes by identifying the slick surfaces that form right angles. Halite breaks into cubes along these planes of weakness.
Relative Density: 2.1
Distinguishing Characteristic: Tastes salty, clear and colourless, cleavage forming right angles
Origin of your Samples: Windsor, Ontario
Other Occurrences: USA, Germany and France
Uses: Halite is used as road salt and table salt. It is also used in the manufacture of glass, fire extinguishers, paint, plastics, synthetic rubbers and cosmetics.
Halite samples courtesy of Canadian Salt Company Ltd.
Hematite
Colour: grey-black, red-brown
Hardness: 6-6.5
Streak: reddish-brown
Lustre: metallic or dull
Magnetic: yes (weakly)
Conductive: no
Cleavage: none
Relative Density: 5.3
Distinguishing Characteristic: reddish-brown streak
Origin of your Samples: Newfoundland
Other Occurrences: England, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and the Lake Superior region.
Uses: Hematite is an important iron ore. Other varieties are used as pigment.
Hematite samples courtesy of Iron Ore Company of Canada Ltd.
Magnetite
Colour: black
Hardness: 5.5
Streak: black
Lustre: metallic, dull
Magnetic: yes
Conductive: no
Cleavage: none
Relative Density: 5.1
Distinguishing Characteristic: Magnetic
Origin of your Samples: Madoc, Ontario
Other Occurrence: South Africa, Germany, Russia and USA
Uses: Magnetite is the primary ore of iron. Iron is used to make steel used in buildings, bridges, vehicles and ships – just to name a few. Stainless steel is also used in countless appliances and tools.
Magnetite samples courtesy of Specialty Aggregate Corporation.
Mica
Colour: dark brown (biotite), colourless (muscovite)
Hardness: 2.5-3
Streak: white
Magnetic: no
Conductive: no
Lustre: pearly, vitreous (glassy)
Cleavage: good - observe mica’s cleavage by holding the mineral up to the light and turning it slowly to see the slick, flashy surface. Crushing a tiny bit in your hand will leave little sparkles where light reflects off the crushed sample.
Relative Density: 2.8
Distinguishing Characteristic: sheets flake off in layers
Origin of your Samples: Bancroft, Ontario
Other Occurrences: India, Pakistan, Brazil and USA
Uses: Mica is used as an industrial heat insulator. Scrap and ground mica is used in wallpaper, fancy paint, ornamental tile, roofing and lubricating oil. Makeup also contains tiny flecks of mica to obtain a sparkling effect.
Mica samples courtesy of the Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
Quartz
Colour: clear, white or grey
Hardness: 7
Streak: white/colourless
Lustre: vitreous (glassy)
Magnetic: no
Conductive: no
Cleavage: none
Relative Density: 2.65
Distinguishing Characteristics: glassy lustre and hardness
Origin of your samples: South Porcupine, Ontario
Other Occurrence: Brazil, Colorado, Scotland, Swiss Alps, Mexico and Germany.
Uses: Quartz is used to manufacture glass, electrical components, optical lenses and abrasives.
Quartz samples courtesy of the Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
Talc
Colour: colourless, white, greenish, yellowish
Hardness: 1
Streak: white
Lustre: pearly, greasy
Magnetic: no
Conductive: no
Cleavage: good – but not visible
Relative Density: 2.7 - 2.8
Distinguishing Characteristic: very soft (can leave a mark on paper)
Origin of your Samples: Madoc, Ontario
Other Occurrence: USA, Germany, Italy, Austria, South Africa and Scotland.
Uses: Talc is used in making paper (as a filler), paints, face and talcum powder, soap, fireproof roofing, foundry facings, lubricants, linoleum and oilcloth, electrical insulation, pottery and insecticides. Talc is a major component of soapstone.
Talc samples courtesy of Canada Talc Ltd. and Luzenac Inc.