Identifying Minerals -- Earth Rocks!

For an introductory college-level physical geology lab class: a review of how to identify common rock-forming minerals. Includes a review of various diagnostic properties, such as cleavage and fractures; hardness; density; color; streak; crystal form; and optical properties such as luster, transparency, and double refraction. Minerals covered include: hornblende, micas (biotite and muscovite), feldspars (plagioclase and potassium feldspars), garnet, olivine, pyroxene, quartz, serpentine, talc, calcite, gypsum, graphite, galena, pyrite, fluorite, halite, hematite, and magnetite. Note: this video indicates over 300 known minerals on Earth; that number is now in the thousands!
**This video comes in the middle of the semester, so there may be terms with which the audience is unfamiliar. For a full playlist, refer to the Geology playlist on the EarthRocks! KZbin Channel.
Content within this video is based on information available in any standard introductory college geology textbook or lab manual, such as Essentials of Geology -- Tarbuck and Lutgens -- Pearson Publishing.
If you are an earth science enthusiast and would like to support our ongoing video development and engage with us behind the scenes...
Or if you are a student and would like access to interactive lessons built around these videos...
you can do so by JOINING the Earth Rocks! KZbin Channel:
/ @earthrocks .
Thank you!

[@chaulzer]

Among the best tuitorials on minerals around. I have learnt so much. Thanks so much.You have a great voice.

[@dawnrusso2621]

Learned

[@oscarmedina1303]

Thank you Katryn. Your video is clearly laid out and easy to understand. This really helps in my quest to develop the ability to identify minerals and understand more about our amazing planet. I can't thank you enough for the videos you've created.

[@-Laken-]

I love the detail and presentation of all of these minerals. Great for studying : )

[@Caver461]

You've got some amazing pegmatites in California. Enjoyed the simplicity of your explanations - thanks.

[@lisafeck1537]

I found this channel searching to identify a certain mineral. After identifying mica, I watched the rest of the video. This is really exceptional content. Thank you.

[@StereoSpace]

Awesomely well made video. Great work. And the narrator is exceptional.

[@Farida-A.R.]

Amazing information about identification of minerals all over the world. Thanks for sharing.

[@abuhassanmohd1797]

thanks, the words are easy to digest and the sentences are strong and clear as the tetrahedral daimond.

[@matthaggins1701]

lol

[@lucasguimaraespacheco9630]

Excellent explanation about the minerals. Very useful. I'll Watch again, sure. Obrigado pela ajuda.

[@jeffbrunswick5511]

Love these videos, you did a really great job.

[@SteelersFans99]

This video was awesome! Thank you so much for the help, subscribed :)

[@mandymaurier5084]

okay. this is the video i’ve been looking for for months!!!!!! best rock ID video i’ve seen so far i love your explanations!!! thank you soo much!!!!!

[@EarthRocks]

Glad it helped!

[@meredithgreenslade1965]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you. Just what I was looking for.

[@cadsterdotcom4534]

Best video on minerals i have seen on youtube

[@dorothyyork6454]

Great video; thanks for this wonderful information.

[@mrswinterfrost]

This is way a cool video. Thanks for putting these up.

[@thirdeyepyramidsmining6901]

Best informational channel for my rock hounding 💯 Great voice too!

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

This is a superb video. The best presented and most thorough. Thanks.

[@EarthRocks]

Very nice to hear. Glad you appreciated it. :)

[@laurahardin5577]

thankyou so much earth rocks! i loved the video!

[@helencalnan.30]

Very good Video. Its Amazing how they are Formed.

[@AmericanCoinHunting]

That was clear as Mud . But then again , I am 65 and new to this . So I subscribed , and will watch this again and again till the mud clears till I move to your next video . I hope oldtimerz don't set in , then I will never get past this video .

[@MrLachupakabra]

This is really good quality! It's paced fast enough that I don't get board, is slow enough to follow, and has useful information! Thank you and keep up the great work! I am eager to watch more videos from this channel. Like and sub!

[@nk-ve1po]

bored* u mean?

[@20greeneyes20]

@@nk-ve1po But you still understood......

[@johnwells1724]

Is there a video on the Metamorphic rocks? I learned more in the 15 minutes each in the videos I watched on igneous and sedimentary rocks than all the other videos I have seen put together! You're awesome. A sincere thank you...

[@EarthRocks]

You're very welcome. Thanks for the feedback. :) Metamorphic rocks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fobclYOefsaEh7c

[@clairevillegas6233]

Organized and helpful thank you!

[@tarapaul8212]

Omg! Love this subscribed. Time to binge watch

[@lisafeck1537]

Mica family. I thought, when I was growing up, 30 years ago, that these flexible shiny layered rocks were called formica. Rock identification has not been a hobby of mine all these years. I have a 3 year old grandson now, my interest is renewed. As I was searching for information on this rock, referring to it as formica did not result in any correct examples. I'm very glad I found this content, my grandson and I will spend some time here learning more about rocks. Thank you.

[@megalonoobiacinc4863]

Where i grew up we knew these flakes as Kråkesølv, meaning crow's silver. Always thought they would work great as little windows...

[@tlharihanirodney3130]

This is the best video ever ....thanks alot So helpful

[@shubhajitroy4073]

Thanks for valueable information

[@Barry9hats]

Thank you! An excellent video.

[@helencalnan.30]

Great Video.Very Well Explained.Its Amazing .

[@amenaishmael3766]

omg i have a science test tmrow and i am so flattered on how helpful this was

[@rallyworld3417]

Wow so much data unpacked in a lil video

[@sarielizard1]

thank you so very much!!

[@brento2890]

Excellent Video !!!

[@growthemoreweknowmarissamu2534]

This is a great video! Thank you

[@filterflo_74]

wow I am now sacraubribed to Earth Rocks! I cannot wait for the epic content!

[@time4807]

Thank you. That was interesting.

[@i7bwn]

very weel done and informative! well done!

[@zuveriyashaikh6464]

Very helpful video thank you so much

[@loueckert4970]

Great video! Now I understand the Denver Gem and Mineral show we attended many times. Awesome stuff!

[@aaronchagwedera6229]

thank you. intresting video.

[@frankus54]

This is a great channel

[@swapnaranimallick9974]

Ur videos are Treasures.....Simply 🔥

[@EarthRocks]

Thank you so much 😀

[@elonakehpalay2746]

Amizingly explained

[@joshuamcnew2227]

Thanks for the info!

[@irishbreakfastmygoodness9384]

Besy video i've found to teach a layman! THANKS lady -)

[@frankreiserm.s.8039]

Better than sector mass spectroscopy is XRD (x-ray diffraction) and a petrographic microscope. Spark atomic emission spectroscopy can also be used.

[@TheGingersnap33]

You hit it out of the BALL PARK WITH YOUR PRESENTATION. Most appreciated & helpful with my mission ops.

[@delsakelly1456]

Beautiful collections. I would love to have few of those rocks.

[@youssefysf9619]

if you want contact me [e-mail]

[@r0bbyinchins]

Great video..very educational

[@impactsfromafar-natureclim5644]

This is great!! Nature Rocks!

[@molejonvlogs]

its very clear explanation

[@simpliciocamirino2271]

Thank you for that sharing sir.

[@Yourname3000]

Nicely done

[@scottm5425]

Sitting in an office doing a boring office job while having my lunch, I'm not sure why I find this interesting but it is...I will watch some more.

[@moslehalemrani4396]

Thank you well explained

[@northchannelburryportfishi4303]

great video im new to rocks but find it really interesting i found this video very informative subscribed thanks for uploading

[@analiaoliveira8262]

Adoro ver esses videos

[@juliet.j9785]

Thank you very much 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@EDLaw-mf9vm]

Also, very informative.

[@instagem2693]

Very Informative:)

[@trippingonrocks1165]

I'll be watching this video more than twice 😅, everything is explained so well. I subscribed, thank you for showing us such fantastic examples 👍🏼🇳🇿

[@camerondean8064]

I am a dog, and I enjoyed this. 10 woofs out of 10.

[@kimberlywilliams4901]

i agree. woof.

[@camerondean8064]

@@kimberlywilliams4901 woof

[@kimberlywilliams4901]

@@camerondean8064 woof woof

[@camerondean8064]

@@kimberlywilliams4901 woof, what's your snapchat, woof

[@kimberlywilliams4901]

@@camerondean8064 whats snapchat, woof

[@joeoliver5276]

Awesome video

[@EarthRocks]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Aravallistoneshows]

Nice information

[@javiergomezCharvel]

Thank you.😀

[@IndianCrystals]

Wow. Thank you :)

[@MattSanipass-wq9ju]

Makes me want to take up geology class

[@manditmakkar1320]

Awesome 👍👍👍👍

[@markapuron4132]

💛THANK YOU 💛

[@johnjaesung404]

Thanks

[@BacGold]

Gostei muito dó seu canal é sou garimpeiro é descobri muito coisa interessante 🙏

[@stevendgrissom1968]

That was great!

[@pullaiahk9561]

very nice informative vedio

[@user-lu3vj3sd9i]

جميل أحسنتوم يااصدقاء معلومات مهمة نشكركم على المعلومات القيمة مرحبا 👍👍👍👍👋👋👋👋🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@larryherrera]

I just want to know the rocks in my garden. Thanks.

[@seanludeman4940]

This video rocked! Please don’t stone me for my comment

[@user-rp1wk6my6d]

😍please information about platinum rough

[@ryanburrow231]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know where I can buy a set of these sample minerals? In college geology years ago, it seems we used this same set and am curious about getting a set for myself for at home teaching/learning. I know there are several sets when I look online, but can't seem to find one with this particular selection.

[@EarthRocks]

These particular samples come from many sources, typically purchased individually over years from mineral vendors at shows. Some were gathered in the field. They weren’t part of a kit. Kits, as you say, can’t replicate these, especially in size.

[@mimiukas1]

its really usefull information to prepare for exam

[@santiagoperez5755]

Miglė P. What do you study?

[@Headboard]

Astronomy

[@ezeugwuugochukwu2516]

Miglė P. Your right. I made my excellent results through this

[@mukeemansari674]

Miglė P. If

[@vijayvj7267]

Im from kishtwar, india where pure sapphire is found, my hometown also have pyrites, mica, heamatite like rock in pleanty ,if our government explore there can be ores of many materials.

[@analiaoliveira8262]

Tenhos varias pedras mais nao conheço entao fico vendo essas pedras q vcs colocam

[@user-dx4yw9wz4z]

رائع جدا شكرا

[@Boom.Bastick]

i love it

[@partharege440]

Thank you amazing

[@EarthRocks]

Welcome 😊

[@ace.lmao_]

who got this from school? great video btw!

[@rickpicone9751]

Now I have this rock that is similar to your magnetite, compacted iron crystals, very heavy, magnetic, black, melted look on the outside, but it streaks red from the window I ground in it.

[@EarthRocks]

Hematite most likely. Post a photo.

[@coolercat4027]

Is it pure black or dark brown? If it's dark brown you might have Limonite

[@rickpicone9751]

@@coolercat4027 Black on the outside cause it looks like it been melted, inside silvery crystals, very magnetic, very heavy.

[@EDLaw-mf9vm]

I am a very new rock hound. Where may I get the identification charts that you display. Thanks.

[@EarthRocks]

You can find them in my lab manual: fog.ccsf.edu/~kwiese/content/Classes/GeologyLabManualFall2018.pdf. Page 126-128

[@EDLaw-mf9vm]

Earth Rocks! Thanks for your reply. I am trying to watch and learn being a beginner.

[@irfanahmad9356]

i wrote sometimes ago about the mineral industry in pakistan.our gems are sent to chhina and other countries.we must give job opportunities for our native inhabitants.for this purpose government ask the saudi or any other country to install factories to refine the ores of the gems. G overnment must make this industry as a part of its portfolio.other minerals as the people and government knows it gold copper iron must be taken in consideration. thanks agha irfan ahmad

[@Rockhoundingcolorado]

Why so many other minerals that like to grow on Mica?

[@sagarwaghmode9065]

thank u mam

[@sunilkumar-nj4zt]

Thank you for the lecture mam. by any chance can we get the details of these tables mam ??

[@EarthRocks]

The tables are in lessons that are built around the videos. To access those, you need to join the channel (become a member). :)

[@GoofyBananaOfficial]

POV: When your Geo Teacher Makes You Watch This Vid Other Students: Yay! Me: Oof

[@zunuku4165]

i know you btw pretty cringy

[@GoofyBananaOfficial]

@@zunuku4165 lol Hey Nico

[@phillipjackson6345]

Charles Lyell would have been proud. Thank you.

[@EarthRocks]

Aww... that's a great compliment! :)

[@tomstanley7568]

are bones minerals you dont have any of them ?

[@tengkuemiroelersly6062]

I've found muscovite,but it's just size of bottle caps.

[@daphnebrewer2214]

I FUCING LOVE GEOLOGY 🙃

[@ankitchoudhary4249]

Super 😘

[@basilioaguilar3814]

I like minerals i got 10,45

[@arthyzlive3987]

I uploaded a video of some kind of mineral gem stone on my youtube channel, i found it when i was out walking, can somebody tell which kind of stone it is? Its very beautifull and heavy and i really love it :-) ty in advance

[@EarthRocks]

Looks like you have pyrite, galena, and possibly chalcopyrite and/or sphalerite. I don't see the purple mineral, but a cubic transparent purple mineral sounds like Fluorite (which will fluoresce to a different color in a black light). Hope that helps. Nice find! :)

[@arthyzlive3987]

@@EarthRocks thank you for the answer, i think you are right in all of it :-)