The A to Z's of Mineral Reference

Minerals may seem very simple but they are really more complex than people can imagine. For instance, minerals like emerald and azurite have a specific makeup. Here is a glossary of the most common terms used when referring to minerals.

• Acucular – aggregate of long, slender crystals
• Agate - banded quartz mineral
• Aggregate – a grouping of crystals
• Anorthosite - an intrusive dark gray igneous rock
• Basalt – a type of volcanic rock
• Batholith – huge mass of igneous rock that intrudes through layers of sedimentary rock.
• Bronze – term describing any metallic alloy that ranges in color from yellow to orange.
• Cat’s Eye – mineral that contains dense inclusions of small fibers.
• Coal – black, greasy rock composed of a buildup of herbal matter.
• Coprolite – fossilized animal excrement that’s embedded in rock.
• Crystal – any three dimensional from that is exhibited by a mineral.
• Dendritic – aggregate composed of tree-like, skeletal formations.
• Embedded crystal - crystal implanted in rock that can only be extracted if the rock is removed.
• Facet – desired surface displayed from a specific gem.
• Floating crystal – crystal that developed without being attached to a rock of sometime.
• Fossil – animal or plant remains from a previous age.
• Gem – cut mineral that is refined for use as a decorative ornament.
• Geode – hollow rock filled with crystal.
• Host mineral – mineral that is the chief ingredient of a specific rock.
• Igneous rock – rock of volcanic origin.
• Jewel – any gem that is capable of being used as an ornament.
• Karat – unit that is used to measure the content of gold in a specific ornament.
• Lode – vein of a precious metal
• Metal – category of positively charged elements in any form.
• Ochre – amorphous substance composed of iron compounds that are colored from yellow to red.
• Ore – valuable material like a precious metal.
• Prism – crystal elongated in one direction.
• Quartz – crystalline mineral that is the most common mineral on the entire planet.
• Rock – mixture of naturally occurring minerals.
• Stone – another term for rock.
• Xenolith – mineral fragment found in igneous rock that is not ingenious itself.
• Zeolite group – group of 30 minerals that are related in structure and habits.

For people who are interested in the study of minerals, including gold and silver jewelry, learning the basic glossaries is very important.