How To Identify Minerals Video Series

[Steve Herschbach]

 

[Steve Herschbach]

 

[Steve Herschbach]

 

[2Valen]

Thanks for posting these videos Steve as I have been interested in learning more about this subject.

I have bookmarked this article so I can take my time and watch them and learn what I have been missing.

 

[DDancer]

It might be good to make a sticky on this one Steve.  Chris, in my opinion, has laid out the very basics for any new rock hounds.  Things I've been saying for years in various ways.... so I'm going to swipe this if , with any permission, and post it where I normally hang out in a rock forum.  I'd love to make it a sticky there too but who knows.

I make a fair effort to identify stuff in that other forum but as Chris say's pictures can be pretty worthless.  Luckly most of what I see there are very common minerals.  Just wish people would take the few extra steps to help id some stuff and take high quality pictures.  But thats the nature of "What is this?" on the net.

[Jim Hemmingway]

Thanks Steve for posting these introductory mineral identification videos. Chris Ralph has presented a highly interesting summary that we thoroughly enjoyed. His spirited enthusiasm for mineralogy is frankly refreshing, and it was a real pleasure to view him teaching.

Chris touched on mica “books” while discussing cleavage, hence displayed below is a commonplace example from central-eastern Ontario, perhaps some 50 miles north of Ottawa. My geologist son resides in a rather remote wilderness setting where massive mica books, rarer blue apatite, and garnet commonly occur. Massive mica forms entire portions of the local roadside banks to considerable heights, such that rockhounders have only to select a suitable sample to add to their private collections. 

We would prefer to see more of Chris Ralph here discussing Rocks & Minerals if at all possible. An interesting topic suggestion for example, might elaborate with more detailed instruction and examples of cleavage as it pertains to all forms of crystalline structure. In any event Steve, kudos to you for posting this type of information, thanks again for doing so. 

Jim.

[MSC]

Thanks Steve for bringing this subject up, Chris does a great job of explaining mineral identification. Folks should subscribe to his YouTube channel as he has other videos on this subject and many other subjects.