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Jade and serpentine are two important types of minerals that have applications in jewelry and ornamental industries. The key difference between jade and serpentine is that jade is comparatively harder and less scratchy, whereas serpentine is softer and scratches more easily than jade. Jade is considered to be more precious and valuable than serpentine.
✳️Cinnabar is a toxic mercury sulfide mineral with a chemical composition of HgS. 🔷It is the only important ore of mercury. It has a bright red color that has caused people to use it as a pigment, and carve it into jewelry and ornaments for thousands of years in many parts of the world. Its […]
🔷Kimberlites, named after the town of Kimberly, South Africa, where they were first described, are volcanic rocks that originate in Earth’s mantle.🔷They are mined exclusively for diamonds. The photo shows the “Big Hole” at Kimberly.🔷The Hole was mined from 1871 to 1914 and reached a depth of 240 m below the surface. Subsequently it filled […]
Geological Time Scale The geological time scale is a system of chronological measurement that relates geological events and geological time to a numerical scale. It is used to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred throughout Earth’s history. The time scale is divided into four main parts: Eons, Eras, Periods, and Epochs. […] Table of Contents Toggle Geological Time Scale
What are Rare Earths? The Japanese call them “the seeds of technology.” The US Department of Energy calls them “technology metals.” They make possible the high tech world we live in today – everything from the miniaturization of electronics, to the enabling of green energy and medical technologies, to supporting a myriad of essential telecommunications and defense systems. […] Table of Contents Toggle What are Rare Earths?Which Elements ...
Geology 101 is the study of the Earth and its materials, structures, processes, and history. It is a broad field that encompasses many different disciplines, including mineralogy, petrology, paleontology, and geophysics. Geologists study the Earth’s physical features, including its rocks, minerals, soils, and water. They also study the Earth’s internal structure and the processes that […] Table of Contents Toggle Why Study Geology?What Do GEOSCIENTISTS ...
What is Volcano I heard about the volcano before 🤔??….We all see volcanoes in movies and news, but did you ask yourself why or how do they happen? On our trip today, we will explore the volcano and see its formation, why it happens, and how.. Are you ready, hero ??Let’s start our journey The […] Table of Contents Toggle What is VolcanoOne ...
An unconformity is a surface of erosion or non-deposition that separates two rock units that have different ages. It represents a time gap in the geologic record, and it occurs when sedimentary rocks are tilted, uplifted, and eroded before new sediment is deposited on top of them. There are three types of unconformities: Disconformities A […] Table of Contents Toggle There are three types of unconformities:
Minerals are homogeneous, naturally occurring, inorganic solids that have a definite crystalline structure and chemical composition. In 1995, the World Minerals Organization put another definition saying that “a mineral is an element or a chemical compound that is naturally crystalline and formed as a result of geological processes.”Minerals have their own specific physical properties which […] Table of Contents Toggle Minerals are classified according to their chemical composition.
The difference between mineral, metal and ores Many people confuse three completely different classes of substances (minerals, ores, and metals), so that metal becomes a mineral, and all minerals become ores. Minerals Minerals are inorganic solids (elements or compounds) that have distinct physical properties. Each substance has a known atomic structure and a fixed chemical […] Table of Contents Toggle MineralsOres materialsMetals
Geology online Quizzes questions and answers. Free online quiz with multiple-choice questions (MCQ) without registration. Geology Multiple Choice Questions geology questions and answers | geology questions for competitive exams | geology exam questions. Geology quiz questions and answers.geology quizes. Geology online quiz.
What is Jade? Jade can be described as a mineral useful as jewelry or ornaments. It is a mineral with a monoclinic crystal system. This material mostly has a green color, but it can appear in virtually all colors. It has a crystal habit of intergrown grainy or fine fibrous aggregate type. Its fractuRead more
What is Jade?
Jade can be described as a mineral useful as jewelry or ornaments. It is a mineral with a monoclinic crystal system. This material mostly has a green color, but it can appear in virtually all colors. It has a crystal habit of intergrown grainy or fine fibrous aggregate type. Its fracture is splintery, and it is a brittle material. The hardness can be given as 6 – 7 on the Mohs scale. Jade is a translucent material with a specific gravity of 2.9 – 3.38.
There are two forms of jade; they are nephrite jade and jadeite jade. Until 1863, it was difficult to determine whether jade was nephrite or jadeite. Nephrite contains a microcrystalline interlocking matrix with a fibrous appearance made of calcium, magnesium-iron rich amphibole minerals. It becomes more green in color when the iron content grows higher. On the other hand, jadeite is rich in sodium and aluminum pyroxene. It is the most precious type of jade and has a microcrystalline structure with an interlocking growth of crystals. This type of jade can be found only on metamorphic rocks.
There are many ornamental uses of jade in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia art. It is also a precious material in Latin America, including Mexico and Guatemala.
What is Serpentine?
Serpentine is a subgroup of kaolinite-serpentine, which has greenish, brownish, spotted minerals that exist in serpentinite rocks. This type of material is useful as a source of magnesium and asbestos. It is also useful as a decorative stone. The name serpentine comes from the green color it has, which resembles a serpent.
This subgroup of this mineral has rock-forming hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate minerals. These minerals are a result of the metamorphism of ultramafic rocks. Moreover, there can be some other elements, such as chromium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel. Moreover, this subgroup has polymorphous minerals, which means there is the same chemical formula with different atomic structures.
The precious or noble forms of serpentine are more attractive and durable forms, and these are useful extensively as gems and used in ornamental carvings. Furthermore, it can be easily carved, polished excellently, and has a pleasingly greasy feeling. There are, however, less valuable serpentine ores with various hardnesses and clarities that are sometimes dyed to imitate jade.
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