20 Most Common Minerals.
Sulfur
Sulfur is a common mineral. Sulfur is not one of the hardest minerals. This mineral can be used as a sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is used for fertilizer. Picture:http://www.rockpow.com/images4/sulfurmed.jpg. If you would like to learn more about Sulfor go to:http://www.mii.org/Minerals/photosul.html
Pyrite
People use Pyrite for fools gold. They named it fools gold because of the color similarity. Pyrite scored 6.0 on the moh's scale for hardness. It is found in many places. But it is hard to find. If you would like to learn more click this link:http://www.gemselect.com/other-info/hematite-pyrite.php
Biotite Mica
Biotite can be known as black mica. Biotite is very flexible and thin. Biotite mica is made by volcanos lava. It is not one of the hardest minerals. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotite http://www.mineralminers.com/html/biomins.stm
Muscovite Mica
Muscovite mica is very easy to peel. Muscovite mica scored a 2 on the mohs hardness test. Muscovite mica is commonly used in a paint. http://www.minerals.net/mineral/muscovite.aspx. http://www.ehow.com/facts_5194655_uses-muscovite-mica.html
Magnetite
Magnetite is the only mineral that can be picked up by a magnet. A lot of times magnite is used for steel and metals.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetite http://www.redorbit.com/education/reference_library/earth/minerals/2575128/magnetite/
Talc
Talc is the softest mineral. It can be scratched just with your finger nail. It has a soapy feel to it. Talc is used for rubber,plastic,paint, and more. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Talc_block.jpg
Hematite
Hematite and magnetite look very a like. Hematite is not a magnetite. People use hematite in jewelry. Scientist think there is hematite on mars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematite http://chemistry.about.com/od/jewelrychemistry/ig/Gemstone-Photo-Gallery/Hematite.htm
Galena
Galena forms naturally from lead. There are large amounts of silver and zinc is galena. Galena are used to make alot of things like paint and bullets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galena http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2006/04/04/galena/
Olivine
Olivine can be used as gemstone.The gemstone is called peridot. Olivine has been found on the moon and mars. The color for olivine can be a yellow or green type of color. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivine http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Peridot2.jpg/240px-Peridot2.jpg
Azurite
Azurite is made up out of copper. Azurite can sometimes turn to a greenish color. Azurite is used for jewelry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azurite http://crystal-cure.com/pics/azurite4.jpg
Malachite
Malachite is used as a gemstone and for other types of jewelry. Malachite is often found with azurite. Malachite is a copper. It scored a 3.5 on the moh's hardness test. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachite http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Malachite,_Zaire.jpg
Gypsum
Gypsum is a soft mineral. Gypsum is used for alot of things like plaster,fertilizer, And soil conditioner. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gypsum-71006.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsum
Milky Quartz
There is a type of gas in the milky quartz structure which is carbon dioxide. Milky quartz scored a 7 on the mohs test. It is easily scratched. It is used for carvings and jewelry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Quartz,_Tibet.jpg
Rose quartz
Rose quartz is used for gemstones or decoration. Some types of crystal rose gold have never been found. it has a shiny surface.it is translucent with a pink color. http://www.mindat.org/min-3456.html http://www.mindat.org/photo-271798.html
Amethyst
Amethyst was used as a gemstone. It is very commonly used for jewelry. http://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/amethyst/amethyst-info.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amethyst
Calcite
Calcite is a very common mineral. Calcite can be easily seen through or darker. The largest calcite mineral was found in ice land. The largest calcite weighed 250 tons. It is sometimes hard to identify because of all the different colors it comes in. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcite
Fluorite
It scored 4 on the mohs scale. It is an evenly hard mineral. It is not one of the hardest minerals. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorite http://crystal-cure.com/flourite.html
Graphite
Graphite is a very soft mineral. It's so greasy that you can actually write with it. Graphite is used in lead for pencils. It can be used for electrical things too! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite
Orthoclase Feldspar
A common mineral. It helps form igneous rocks. Sometimes people use it in jewelry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthoclase http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/mineral/orthoclase/6orthoclase-cleavage5.jpg
Agate
Agate is a type of silica. They can be common in types of metamorphic rocks. It used to be used for carving. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agate http://vibrate.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/lagagate01.jpg