40 Common Minerals | Tungsten, Silver, Feldspar & more!

Antimony - Commonly used with alloys to create batteries, Antimony is a grayish metal that can be found in its pure form in nature; this is a very unique characteristic.

Asbestos - Asbestos is a carcinogen and causes cancer in those who work closely with the metal, it is used for its fire retardant properties and when polished is referred to as "Tiger Eye".

Barium - Used in x-ray machines, rubber, fireworks, rodent poison, and glass making, Barium is a soft and light colored alkaline metal.

Bauxite - This sedimentary rock is a valuable aluminum ore. The aluminum in Bauxite is sucked out by the soil that surrounds the metal.

Beryllium - Noted for its toxicity, Beryllium is an alkaline metal frequently used in x-ray machines and lighting. Beryllium also has an oddly sweet taste.

Chromite - Chromite is a hard chromium metal ore, its hardness is second only to that of the diamond, and because of this incredible hardness; chromite has a beautiful chrome finish when polished.

Cobalt - Cobalt is known to give a beautiful blue color to custom glass and is commonly used in invisible ink. This metal is similar to iron; it is very brittle and is typically found in meteorites.

Columbite-Tantalite - Commonly used in the field of technology, Columbite-tantalite is found in health products, guns, electronics, and automotive systems.

Copper - Found all over the world, copper is a very abundant metal. It is used in piping, plumbing, jewelry, currency, and to conduct electrical currents. Copper is an orange-red colored metal with a soft texture.

Feldspar - Found primarily in granite, feldspar is the most abundant mineral on the planet; it is commonly used in building materials.

Fluorite - Also called fluorspar, fluorite is used in fluorescent pigment. This gem is very beautiful and is mined worldwide.

Gold - Gold is a very recognizable material used in jewelry, electronics, and many household appliances. Gold is valued for its flexible property and wide range of uses. In recent trends, triton, palladium, and even ceramic rings have begun to take the place of gold as a popular material in jewelry.

Gypsum - This is a soft mineral with many different uses. Gypsum is typically used in drywall and may be referred to as 'sheet rock'. Gypsum is also found in construction materials and garden fertilizers.

Halite - Also called sodium chloride or salt, halite has many different uses. It is valued for its ability to preserve and season foods, melt ice, and soften water. Halite is also used to make some varieties of acid.

Iron Ore - Valued as a crucial part of civilization, iron ore has been used for thousands of years to make tools and weapons, more recently it has been used when building structures and vehicles.

Lead - Associated primarily with lead poisoning, this metal has a negative connotation. Lead can be absorbed by the skin or inhaled, causing health problems. At one time, lead was used in pencils, cutlery, and paint.

Lithium - Commonly used in batteries and bipolar personality medication, lithium is also a popular material in the electric car industry.

Manganese - Paired with iron, this metal can take on magnetic properties. It is commonly used in steel making.

Mica - Mica is valued for its sparkly property and gives rocks a bit of shine. Mica is very malleable and was used in early glass making.

Molybdenum - A more mysterious element, Molybdenum uses nitrogen and is very important to the life cycle.

Nickel - Used in everyday life, nickel is found in currency, cutlery, and jewelry. It can also be combine with alloys.

Perlite - A product of volcanic rock, Perlite is a less dense property found in most potting soils and gardening additives.

Platinum - Valued for its rarity, platinum is used in jewelry. However, technology also utilizes the metals unique properties.

Phosphate - This complex element is necessary for supporting life.

Potash - also referred to as potassium, potash is used in fertilizers and is important to the human body because it helps to regulate pressure within the body's cell walls. Potash is also a main ingredient in soap.

Pyrite - Also called 'fool's gold', looks like gold but is much less valuable. Pyrite is found in granite rocks and was used by Native American Indians as a reflective surface. More recently, it is used in surface disinfectants and inks.

Quartz - This is the most plentiful mineral on the planet. Quartz is included in the same rock family as agates, flints, onyxes, and jaspers and is valued for its use in glass and watch making, and concrete; it is also used in silicon semiconductors. Quarts is also referred to as silica.

Rare Earth Elements - Known for their ability to create nuclear power, rare Earth elements include: cerium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium, erbium, thulium, lutetium, lanthanum, praseodymium, promethium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, terbium, and thulium ytterbium.

Silica - Silica is used primarily to remove the moisture from the air in desiccants. Sandpaper and glass making also utilize silica.

Silver - Commonly used in jewelry and currency, silver is one of the select precious metals. Silver is also sometimes used in medication because of its anti-microbial features.

Sodium Carbonate - Also called trona or soda ash, sodium carbonate is used in paper and glass making, and in many detergents and laundry softeners, it has the ability to balance out pH levels in such products.

Stibnite - Found in fireworks, glass making, and rubber, stibnite is an ore of antimony. Romania is the major supplier of the world's stibnite supply.

Sulfur - Sulfur has a very distinct spell. It is one of only a handful of minerals that can be found in its natural form in nature. Sulfur is a major component in acid rain, fruit preservation, and wine making.

Tantalum - A common ingredient in vacuum equipment, military goods, and aircrafts, tantalum has a very high melting point.

Titanium - This extremely strong metal is very strong and commonly used in human prosthetics and surgical implants.

Tungsten - Tungsten has a very high melting point and is valued for its strength and durability. Tungsten is typically used in welding and the making of saw blades; it is also used in tungsten rings and wedding bands.

Uranium - This radioactive element is a primary ingredient in x-rays, fuel, military weapons, and cancer treatments.

Vanadium - Used to regulate blood sugar and muscle growth, vanadium is found in many foods and supplements to promote healthy bone growth.

Zeolite - Also called the "stone that dances", zeolite is found in kitty litter and waste processing systems, because it has the ability to absorb ammonia and reduce unwanted smells.

Zinc - Zinc is used to control diabetes, fight the common cold, and correct muscle degeneration. Zinc is an important part of the human diet and a deficiency may result in eye, pallet, and digestion problems.