Silicates—including quartz, mica, olivine, and precious minerals such as emeralds—are the most common class of minerals, as well as the major components of most rocks. Oxides, sulfides ...

A detailed look at rocks and minerals, the essential building blocks of Earth’s crust. Rocks are naturally occurring solids ...

Identifying Gems And Minerals On Earth And On Mars Date: March 18, 2006 Source: University of Arizona Summary: Researchers are developing a handheld instrument, much like a tricorder from the ...

MOUNTAINSIDE — Rocks, minerals and gems drew a crowd to the Trailside Nature and Science Center in the Watchung Reservation. The two-day Rock, Mineral and Gem Show was held on Saturday and ...

Minerals are typically formed when molten rock, or magma, cools, or by separating out of mineral-rich water, such as that in underground caverns. In general, mineral particles are small, having ...

It’ll be a snap to identify gemstones once Robert Downs finishes his library of spectral fingerprints for all the Earth’s minerals. Downs is almost halfway there. So far, the associate ...