Pyrite is the most common sulfide found in many environments. It is a common accessory mineral in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. It also is abundant in most hydrothermal deposits. Only the most significant occurrences …
Rusk County
Pyrophyllite
Formula: Al2Si4O10(OH)2 Monoclinic Description: Pyrophyllite is a micaceous mineral formed as a result of the relatively low grade metamorphism of aluminum-rich rocks. It can also form as a hydrothermal replacement of aluminous minerals such as feldspars. The …
Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS Monoclinic Description: Pyrrhotite with pen for scale. From the mineral collection of Brigham Young University Department of Geology, Provo, Utah, Mineral Specimens 867. Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey Denver Library Photographic Collection. (Photo by …
Quartz
Formula: SiO2 Hexagonal Description: Quartz is the most abundant mineral. It is an essential component of granitic igneous rocks, of sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and chert and of metamorphic rocks such as quartzites. It is a …
Rutile
Formula: TiO2 Tetragonal Description: Rutile from the Nine Mile Pluton near Wausau in Marathon County, Wisconsin. Scanning electron microscope image. (Photo by Al Falster.) Rutile is an accessory mineral found in a wide variety of rocks, usually as …
Serpentine
Formula: Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 Monoclinic, orthorhombic, hexagonal Description: Serpentine is a family of polymorphs that include the flaky to platy antigorite, massive lizardite and fibrous clinochrysotile, orthochrysotile and parachrysotile. The polymorphs are often intimately intergrown in a particular rocks, …
Siderite
Formula: FeCO3 Hexagonal Description: Siderite forms as a sedimentary precipitate, in hydrothermal veins, in metamorphic rocks formed from such protoliths, and, rarely, in pegmatites. In sedimentary environments it forms in extensive beds of banded iron formations …
Silver
Formula: Ag Isometric Description:Native silver is found in hydrothermal veins or, more rarely, as a supergene mineral. It is associated with gold, and a variety of sulfides such as galena, pyrite and acanthite. Major silver mineralization …
Spessartine
Formula: Mn3Al2(SiO4)3 Isometric Description:Spessartine is a member of the garnet family. It is usually red to orange in color and is found generally in granite pegmatites, where it can form large gemmy crystals. It is also found …
Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS Isometric Description: Banded sphalerite, near Hazel Green in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Sample is about 1 cm long. Sphalerite occurs in a wide range of hydrothermal environments. It is common with chalcopyrite in exhalative massive …