# Mineral identification guides

Canonical page: https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification
Last reviewed: September 17, 2026
Page purpose: Directory of original, field-first LithoMap mineral identification guides.

The library emphasizes converging evidence rather than color alone. Each isolated page covers classification, appearance, formation, practical tests, common lookalikes, occurrence, uses, safety, authoritative sources, and the limits of hand-sample identification.

## Guides

- Quartz — Silicate mineral · SiO₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/quartz
- Calcite — Carbonate mineral · CaCO₃ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/calcite
- Gypsum — Sulfate mineral · CaSO₄·2H₂O — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/gypsum
- Halite — Halide mineral · NaCl — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/halite
- Fluorite — Halide mineral · CaF₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/fluorite
- Feldspar — Silicate mineral group — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/feldspar
- Muscovite — Light-colored mica mineral — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/muscovite
- Biotite — Dark mica mineral group — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/biotite
- Pyrite — Sulfide mineral · FeS₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/pyrite
- Hematite — Iron oxide mineral · Fe₂O₃ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/hematite
- Magnetite — Iron oxide mineral · Fe₃O₄ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/magnetite
- Olivine — Silicate mineral group — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/olivine
- Garnet — Silicate mineral group — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/garnet
- Gold — Native element · Au — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/gold
- Chalcopyrite — Copper iron sulfide · CuFeS₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/chalcopyrite
- Diamond — Native element · C — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/diamond
- Talc — Sheet silicate · Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/talc
- Dolomite — Carbonate mineral · CaMg(CO₃)₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/dolomite
- Copper — Native element · Cu — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/copper
- Silver — Native element · Ag — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/silver
- Galena — Lead sulfide · PbS — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/galena
- Sphalerite — Zinc sulfide · ZnS — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/sphalerite
- Corundum — Aluminum oxide · Al₂O₃ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/corundum
- Graphite — Native element · C — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/graphite
- Molybdenite — Molybdenum disulfide · MoS₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/molybdenite
- Sulfur — Native element · S — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/sulfur
- Malachite — Copper carbonate hydroxide · Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/malachite
- Azurite — Copper carbonate hydroxide · Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/azurite
- Apatite — Phosphate mineral group · Ca₅(PO₄)₃(F,Cl,OH) — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/apatite
- Topaz — Aluminum silicate fluoride hydroxide · Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/topaz
- Beryl — Beryllium aluminum silicate · Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/beryl
- Tourmaline — Complex borosilicate mineral group — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/tourmaline
- Kaolinite — Clay mineral · Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/kaolinite
- Hornblende — Amphibole-group mineral — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/hornblende
- Augite — Clinopyroxene-group mineral — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/augite
- Serpentine — Hydrous magnesium silicate mineral group — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/serpentine
- Chlorite — Hydrous sheet-silicate mineral group — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/chlorite
- Epidote — Calcium aluminum iron sorosilicate · Ca₂(Al,Fe)₃(SiO₄)₃(OH) — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/epidote
- Barite — Barium sulfate · BaSO₄ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/barite
- Celestite — Strontium sulfate · SrSO₄ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/celestite
- Kyanite — Aluminum silicate · Al₂SiO₅ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/kyanite
- Staurolite — Iron magnesium aluminum silicate hydroxide — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/staurolite
- Goethite — Iron oxide hydroxide · FeO(OH) — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/goethite
- Rutile — Titanium dioxide · TiO₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/rutile
- Ilmenite — Iron titanium oxide · FeTiO₃ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/ilmenite
- Zircon — Zirconium silicate · ZrSiO₄ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/zircon
- Cassiterite — Tin oxide · SnO₂ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/cassiterite
- Monazite — Rare-earth phosphate mineral group · (Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO₄ — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/monazite

## Side-by-side lookalike comparisons

- Quartz vs. calcite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/quartz-vs-calcite
- Quartz vs. feldspar — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/quartz-vs-feldspar
- Muscovite vs. biotite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/muscovite-vs-biotite
- Hematite vs. magnetite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/hematite-vs-magnetite
- Gypsum vs. calcite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/gypsum-vs-calcite
- Fluorite vs. quartz — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/fluorite-vs-quartz
- Pyrite vs. gold — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/pyrite-vs-gold
- Pyrite vs. chalcopyrite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/pyrite-vs-chalcopyrite
- Quartz vs. diamond — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/quartz-vs-diamond
- Gypsum vs. talc — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/gypsum-vs-talc
- Calcite vs. dolomite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/calcite-vs-dolomite
- Gold vs. copper — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/gold-vs-copper
- Silver vs. galena — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/silver-vs-galena
- Galena vs. sphalerite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/galena-vs-sphalerite
- Quartz vs. corundum — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/quartz-vs-corundum
- Pyrite vs. galena — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/pyrite-vs-galena
- Graphite vs. molybdenite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/graphite-vs-molybdenite
- Malachite vs. azurite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/malachite-vs-azurite
- Malachite vs. native copper — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/malachite-vs-copper
- Sulfur vs. pyrite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/sulfur-vs-pyrite
- Graphite vs. galena — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/graphite-vs-galena
- Apatite vs. fluorite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/apatite-vs-fluorite
- Topaz vs. quartz — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/topaz-vs-quartz
- Beryl vs. quartz — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/beryl-vs-quartz
- Tourmaline vs. garnet — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/tourmaline-vs-garnet
- Kaolinite vs. talc — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/kaolinite-vs-talc
- Hornblende vs. tourmaline — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/hornblende-vs-tourmaline
- Augite vs. hornblende — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/augite-vs-hornblende
- Serpentine vs. malachite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/serpentine-vs-malachite
- Chlorite vs. biotite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/chlorite-vs-biotite
- Epidote vs. olivine — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/epidote-vs-olivine
- Barite vs. calcite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/barite-vs-calcite
- Celestite vs. barite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/celestite-vs-barite
- Kyanite vs. corundum — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/kyanite-vs-corundum
- Staurolite vs. garnet — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/staurolite-vs-garnet
- Goethite vs. hematite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/goethite-vs-hematite
- Rutile vs. hematite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/rutile-vs-hematite
- Ilmenite vs. magnetite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/ilmenite-vs-magnetite
- Zircon vs. diamond — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/zircon-vs-diamond
- Cassiterite vs. sphalerite — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/cassiterite-vs-sphalerite
- Monazite vs. zircon — https://lithomap.app/resources/mineral-identification/compare/monazite-vs-zircon

Identification does not establish specimen value, origin, legal access, ownership, or collecting permission. Weathered, altered, fine-grained, and mixed samples may require laboratory analysis.