The twenty most common minerials.
Muscovite Mica
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/3412632.jpg)
This is a colorless pale brown colored mineral. It peels away easily into very thin layers. One use is it helps make electronics.
Biotite Mica
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/7439593.jpg)
This mineral is dark brown to black. It peels away easily like Muscovite Mica. It helps make paint.
Sulfur
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/1656869.jpg)
It is a bright lemon color. It also has no cleavage. It helps make fertilizer.
Pyrite
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/9642317.jpg)
Another name for Pyrite is fools gold. Pyrite creates a greenish black streak. It makes inexpensive jewelry.
Magnetite
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/7065780.jpg)
It is a dark brown to black colored mineral. A magnet can pick up this mineral. It makes steel nails.
Hematite
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/5916392.jpg)
This mineral creates a brownish red streak. A black piece of this mineral looks a lot like Magnetite. A use for this mineral is rouge.
Galena
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/5176854.jpg)
This mineral is gray. This mineral is heavier than other minerals the same size. The lead from this mineral helps make batteries.
Olivine
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/8758967.jpg)
You can see through or almost through this mineral. It is a yellow green colored mineral. It is used to make Jewelry.
Azurite
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/578345.jpg)
It is bright blue. It is a 3.5 on Mohs hardness scale. It is used to make jewelery
Malachite
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/3194109.jpg)
It is a 3.5 on Mohs hardness. It is a dark green colored mineral. It makes copper wiring.
Talc
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/1781098.jpg)
You can scratch this mineral with your fingernail. Talc can be pale green, pale pink, and white. It is used to help make talcum powder.
Gypsum
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/5515816.jpg)
Gypsum is soft. This mineral can be transparent. It is used to make sheetrock.
Milky Quartz
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/1446459.jpg)
Milky Quartz is white. It is a 7 on Mohs hardness scale. It is jewelry.
Rose Quartz
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/9375287.jpg)
It is a pink color and has no cleavage. It is jewelry.
Amethyst
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/5755406.jpg?160)
It is purple quartz. This mineral is shiny. It is used to make jewelry and and artwork.
Agate
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/9303941.jpg)
Agate's quartz fibers are tiny and can barely be seen under a regular microscope. Agate is dull and has to be polished to be shiny. It is used to make jewelry and art.
Orthoclase Feldspar
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/9274329.jpg)
The most common colors for this mineral is pinkish orange. On Mohs hardness scale it is a 6. It makes soap.
Calcite
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/3419196.jpg)
The easiest way to determine it is this mineral is with the acid test. One of the most common forms is shaped like a dog's canine tooth. It helps make cement.
Fluorite
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/9997466.jpg)
It is a 4 on Mohs hardness scale. It does not fizz when in contact with hydrochloric acid. It is used in fluoride toothpaste.
Graphite
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/0/2/14021357/3367986.jpg)
It is gray. You can write on paper with graphite. It helps make pencils.
Sources
http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/GLG101/GLG101-20-minerals.htm
http://www.rocksandminerals.com/uses.htm
http://www.cmdowns.com/minerals-uses.htm
http://geology.about.com/od/minerals/ig/quartzgallery/qtzroseqtz.htm
http://geology.com/minerals
http://www.mineralminers.com/images/muscovite/mins/musm101x.jpg
http://www.rocksandminerals.com/uses.htm
http://www.cmdowns.com/minerals-uses.htm
http://geology.about.com/od/minerals/ig/quartzgallery/qtzroseqtz.htm
http://geology.com/minerals
http://www.mineralminers.com/images/muscovite/mins/musm101x.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Agate_banded_750pix.jpg/240px-Agate_banded_750pix.jpg