Meet Selenite Gypsum – Our New Favorite Mineral!

Love, love, love, love! Did I mention how much I just love these new Selenite Sticks? Selenite is a form of the mineral Gypsum. When the long strands form together in groups, they take the form of these super, awesome, cute “sticks.”

Ask-a-Geologist #20: What can you tell me about the mineral pyrite?

Today I have a special guest with me. Her name is Piper and we are discussing the mineral pyrite. (Make sure you watch the video until the end to see our first blooper reel!)

What is Mineral Luster?

The fact is that EVERY mineral has a luster. Geologists use so many terms for different types of luster is will make your head spin. Sometimes the luster is obvious and sometimes a little more subtle. Basically, luster is the appearance of a mineral’s surface when light shines on the sample. The absorption, refraction and reflection of the light upon the surface of the mineral will present as different luster.

Salt: A Unique Mineral and Great Teaching Tool

Salt is a common mineral found worldwide called halite. Many people also call the mineral rock salt. The mineral is very soft in relation to other minerals and can form nice crystal shapes. The crystals can forms individually in crystalline masses. Rock salt forms as a common sedimentary deposit in areas of enclosed salt water. Salt is a versatile teaching tool because it has definite physical properties that are easy to recognize and you can perform in class and at home experiments as a demonstration.

How to Create a Rock & Mineral Collection

Are you fascinated with rocks and minerals? Do you want to start a collection for yourself or your kids but don’t know where to start and what types of samples to collect? I get lots of questions from people who want to start a collection but a daunted by the variety of rock and mineral types and the costs of some of these samples. Here are some great tips for starting your own collection.

Rock Salt or Halite – It’s one Great Mineral

Salt is a common evaporite mineral that exists around the world and is often called halite or rock salt. The mineral is very soft in relation to other minerals and can form nice crystal shapes.

Today’s Ask-a-Geologist Question – Is being a Geologist fun?

We received this interesting question from a 10-year old who is interested in what is it like to work as a geologist.

Question: Is being a geologist fun? Or is it drudgery? Do you have to stay away from your family for long periods of time?

How to Perform a Mineral Streak Test

A streak test is one tool that geologists use to determine the identity of a mineral. The “streak” is the color of the mineral in powdered form. Some minerals will have a streak color that is the same as the outer color of the mineral while others will have a streak color that is very different from the outer color.

Our Most Popular Ask-a-Geologist Question…..EVER!

This has to be the most-asked question we receive here at Mini Me Geology. Question: What are the hollow ball-like objects, such as quartz, which are found in sedimentary rocks?

Amethyst is one of the most popular minerals with children

Amethyst is a common, purple form of the mineral quartz. Fairly hard, amethyst is a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale which has a range from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).