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Electronic identification table of minerals in reflected light
It is a tool for preliminary identification of ore minerals by two practical supports: brightness (R, %) и microhardness (VHN). The point is simple: you set the ranges - the table narrows down the candidates and shows you what else is worth checking under the microscope.
Important: Brightness and microhardness values depend on composition, orientation, polish quality and measurement technique. Use the table as a filter and not as a «single verdict».
How to read a mineral card
- Formula - top left (e.g, FeSbS).
- Brightness - Top right (e.g, 52-57). This is a range/estimate R Percentage.
- Number in brackets - a benchmark of the «popularity» of the name in the search (conditional scale 0-8). It does not affect identification in the microscope, but helps to understand the prevalence of the term.
- Bottom line - microhardness (VHN) and conditional grade (I-VII), plus isotropy/anisotropy marking in reflected light.
To create a sub-sample of minerals, specify the properties
Mineral rankings in search engines
Below is a list of minerals with parameters for quick navigation. If a separate card-page is prepared for a mineral, its name will be clickable.
Nothing was found for the selected ranges. Loosen the filters or reset them.
Ag
95 (8)
silver
41-57; I (I).
Au
77 (8)
gold
45-90; I (I).
Ag,Au
84 (2)
custelite
75-85; I (I).
Bi4Te3
63-66 (3)
verliette
20-50; I (A0.05)
Cu
61 (7)
copper
90-143; I-II (I).
SnSb
81 (2)
stistaitis
103-127; II (I)
(Cu,As)
77 (2)
whitneyite
52-58; I (I).
Sb
72-75 (6)
antimony
61-135; I-II (A0.05)
Cu7Hg6
73 (2)
shoaling
100-150; II (AND)
Sb2(Sb,As)2
68-74 (2)
paradocrasite
121-142; II (A0.08)
Bi
58-66 (6)
bismuth
13-29; I (A0,12)
Au2Te3
57-68 (3)
montbrayite
198-238; II-III (A0,16)
PbTe
70 (3)
altaitite
46-60; I (I).
(Pb,Pt,Au)3(Pb,Sn)
68 (0)
zvyaginzevite
316; IV (I).
Pd(Te,Bi)
62-66 (3)
cotullskite
236; III (A0.07)
Bi2Te3
59-64 (3)
tellurium bismuthite
32-93; I (A0.07)
NiTe2
57-62 (4)
melonite
63-166; I-II (A0.08)
Te
61-68 (5)
tellurium
26-89; I (A0,11)
Ag3Sb
66 (3)
dyscrasitis
146-160; II (A0.00)
Bi4Te4S
54-61 (3)
Joseit-B
48-72; I (A0,11)
AuSb2
61 (3)
aurostibite
257-319; III-IV (I)
Au3(Au,Ag)Te8
55-59 (3)
crennerite
188-224; II-III (A0.08)
NiSb2
62 (2)
nisbitt
420-513; V-VI (A0.00)
Pt(Bi,Sb)2
61 (3)
insiswaite
519; VI (I).
NiTeSe
53-58 (3)
kitkaite
89-132; I-II (A0.09)
PtSn
41-62 (2)
niggliitis
100; II (A 0.34)
Bi2Te2S
53-60 (4)
tetradymite
25-76; I (A0,12)
CoAs3
57 (4)
scutterudite
744; VII (I).
Ni3S2
53-57 (3)
hizlewoodite
220-320; III-IV (A)
Pd(Bi,Pb)
60 (5)
polarite
180-219; II-III (A)
Au2Bi
60 (3)
maldonite
260-270; III (I)
NiAs2
59-60 (3)
pararammelsbergite
730-790; VII (A).
Au(Ag,Au)Te4
50-60 (4)
sylvanite
91-149; I-II (A0,17)
Fe
60 (8)
iron
97-117; I-II (I).
NiAs2
57-60 (3)
ramelsbergite
556-629; VI-VII (A0.06)
(Pt,Pd)(Te,Bi)2
54-59 (2)
moncheit
50; I (A 0.10)
NiS
52-59 (4)
millerite
171-388; II-IV (A0,10)
AuTe2
58-65 (4)
calaverite
127-215; II-III (A0,10)
(Pd,Pt)(Te,Bi)2
53-58 (0)
merenskiite
50; I (A 0.08)
AuCuTe4
47-57 (3)
costovite
35-43; I (A0,18)
As
49-58 (6)
arsenic
93-137; I-II (A0,16)
Pd3Pb2
54-57 (3)
plumbopalladinite
407-433; V (A0.05)
(Pd,Pt)BiTe
56 (3)
maychnerite
208-239; III (I)
Pb
56 (8)
lead
6-9; I (I).
FeSbS
52-57 (3)
350-723; IV-VII (A0.09)
FeS2
57-50 (5)
marcasite
717-1120; VII (A0,13)
FeS2
55 (6)
pyrite
965-1408; VII (I).
NiAs3
55 (3)
nickelscutterudite
527; VI (and)
Ni(Fe,Mi,Co)8S8
52 (4)
pentlandite
194-217; II-III (I)
BiTeS2
51-55 (3)
Joseit-A
53-114; I-II (A0.08)
NiAs
51-55 (3)
nickeline
382-489; IV-V (A0.07)
FeAs2
52-55 (3)
lollingitis
635-741; VII (A0.06)
(Co,Fe)As2
51-54 (3)
safflorite
430-988; V-VII (A0.06)
NiSb
45-55 (2)
breitgauptit
428-515; V-VI (A0,20)
(Pb,Ag)5Bi6S14
44-54 (3)
wittit
163-193; II (A 0.19)
(Ni,Co)S2
31-54 (3)
bravoite
1003-1288; VII (AND).
FeAsS
51-54 (4)
arsenopyrite
745-1127; VII (A0.06)
(Co,Ni,Fe)AsS
52 (4)
cobaltine
886-1116; VII (I;A).
(Rh,Pt,Pd)AsS
52 (3)
cholingoorthitis
657-848; VII (and)
AgBiTe2
53 (3)
wolynskite
55-99; I (A0,0)
AgBiSe2
52 (3)
bogdanovicite
96; I (I).
Ni11As8
51 (3)
maucherite
658-788; VII (A0,0)
FeTe2
50-51 (3)
frobergite
250-297; III (A0.02)
FeSe2
46-51 (3)
ferroselite
824-861; VII (A0.09)
Ni7S6
50-51 (3)
yearlingskite
382-418; IV-V (A0,02)
Ag2FeSnS4
45-50 (2)
brutalize
340; IV (A 0.1)
Bi2S3
33-50 (4)
bismuthin
73-188; I-II (A0.38)
PbSe
49 (3)
clausthalite
46-63; I (I).
PbSnS2
42-49 (3)
thyllite
210-230; III (A0,14)
Bi2Se3
40-49 (3)
guanahuatite
42-98; I (A0,18)
CoSbS
48 (2)
paracostobite
1069; VII (A0,0)
CuFeS2
48 (5)
chalcopyrite
165-260; II-III (A0,0)
Co3S4
48 (3)
linnaeite
508-554; VI (i)
Cu3As
48 (3)
206-250; III (I, A)
(Co,Ni)As
47-48 (2)
langysite
780-857; VII (A0.02)
PbBi2S4
46-48 (3)
galenobismuthite
125-153; II (A0.04)
Ni3(Bi,Pb)2S2
44-48 (3)
parkrite
111-142; II (A0,1)
NiNi2S4
47 (3)
polydymitis
437-444; V (I).
(Ir,Ru,Rh,Pt)AsS
47 (3)
irarsite
976; VII (I).
CoNi2S4
47 (3)
zygenite
437-514; V-VI (I).
Pb3Bi7(Ag,Cu)5S16
43-47 (4)
beryite
50; I (A 0.08)
(Ag,Cu)3(Bi,Pb)7S12
41-47 (4)
benjaminite
183-194; II (A0,13)
Cu2Bi4S7
40-47 (0)
dogachkite
142-218; II-III (A 0.15)
CuPbBiS3
39-47 (3)
aikinite
165-204; II-III (A0,18)
(Fe,Ni)9S8
18-47 (4)
mackinawite
20-95; I (A0,62)
(Cu,Co,Ni)3Se4
46 (2)
thyrorellitis
342-359; IV (I)
Bi10Pb10Cu4S27
40-46 (2)
nafieldite
149-178; II (A0,13)
(Ni,Co,Fe)AsS
46 (3)
gersdorfit
640-806; VII (I;A).
CoSbS
45-46 (3)
costibit
695-1010; VII (A).
NiSbS
45 (3)
ulmanite
460-560; V-VI (I;A).
AgCuSe
45 (3)
eucairite
23-42; I (A)
Pb6FeBi4Sb2S16
40-45 (3)
cobellite
97-186; I-II (A 0.11)
Pb3Bi2S6
38-45 (3)
lillianite
90-210; I-III (A0.15)
AgBiS2
42-44 (3)
matildite
79-119; I-II (A0.04)
Fe1-xS
40-44 (5)
pyrrhotite
207-343; III-IV (A0.09)
Ag4PbBiS9
40-44 (3)
schirmerite
90-98; I (A0,1)
Cu2(Sb,Tl)
38-44 (3)
cuprostibite
195-280; II-III (A0,14)
Sb2S3
30-44 (4)
antimonite
65-167; I-II (A0.33)
PbS
43 (6)
galena
64-110; I-II (I).
CuBiS2
39-43 (3)
emplektitis
157-229; II-III (A0.09)
Pb4FeSb6S14
37-43 (4)
jemsonite
52-147; I-II (A0,12)
Pb13CuSb7S24
35-43 (3)
meninginitis
101-197; II (A0,17)
MoS2
21-43 (5)
molybdenite
16-84; I (A0,5)
Pb2Bi2S5
39-47 (0)
cozalite
89-207; I-III (A 0.17)
Pb5Sb4S11
35-42 (4)
boulangerite
100-182; II (A0,17)
Pb7Sb8S19
33-42 (3)
heteromorphite
137-187; II (A0,22)
Cu5As2
40-42 (3)
koutekite
147; II (A0.05)
Pb11Cu2Sb16S36
33-42 (3)
tintinaite
149-157; II (A 0.16)
FeSb2S4
31-42 (3)
bertierite
92-221; I-III (A0.26)
AgCu2S
41 (2)
cutinaite
387; IV (I)
Ag3+xPb10-2xSb11-xS28
39-41 (3)
ovihiit
129-151; II (A0.05)
CuTe
15-47 (4)
vulcanite
50; I (A 0.68)
Ag2Te
39-41 (4)
hessite
31-44; I (A0.05)
Pb5Sb8S17
33-41 (3)
plagionite
159-205; II-III (A0,19)
PbSb2S4
37-41 (3)
zincenite
158-208; II-III (A0,12)
CuFe2S3
37-41 (4)
Kubanite
220-250; III (A0,10)
Cu18Fe16S32
40 (3)
talnakhite
220-250; III (I)
Cu10Bi12S23
40 (3)
cuprobismuthite
155-161; II (A)
Pb14(Sb,As)6S23
40 (3)
geocronite
95-140; I-II (A 0.05) *
CuSbS2
35-43 (3)
chalcostibit
198-258; II-III (A0,12)
(Pt,Pd,Ni)S
40 (4)
cooperite
505-588; VI (A)
HgTe
39 (4)
coloradoite
27-37; I (I).
AuAg3Te2
39 (3)
petzite
46-54; I (I).
AuPb5(Te,Sb)4S6
38-39 (3)
nahiagite
68-129; I-II (A0.03)
FeNi2S4
39 (3)
violarite
413-460; V (I).
Pb14As6S23
37-39 (3)
jordanite
50-154; I-II (A 0.05)
TIFeS2
26-38 (2)
raginite
50; I (A 0.31)
HgSb4S8
29-38 (3)
livingstonite
102-155; II (A0,23)
MnO2
28-38 (4)
pyrolusite
161-321; II-IV (A;I)
Pb7As9S20
34-37 (4)
ratite
50; I ()
AgFe2S3
26-37 (3)
sternbergite
49-153; I-II (A0,30)
WS2
19-37 (3)
tungstenite
15; I (A0.5)
Fe3S4
36 (4)
greigite
314-342; IV (A0,0)
Cu3AsS4
36 (2)
lazarevicite
50; I (I).
Ag2Se
35 (3)
naumannite
31-37; I (I;A).
PbCuSbS3
33-35 (4)
bournonite
166-187; II (A0.06)
CuSe
13-35 (3)
clockmannite
89-124; I-II (A0,61)
Cu3BiS3
32-35 (3)
vitichenite
157-229; II-III (A0.07)
Ag4SeS
34 (3)
agvilarite
26-32; I (A0,0)
Ag2S
34 (4)
acanthite
20-30; I (I;A)
Cu7(Tl,Ag)Se4
33-34 (3)
cruxite
101-142; II (A0,03)
PbCuAsS3
31-34 (3)
zeligmannite
151-205; II-III (A0.09)
(Ag,Cu)16As2S11
28-34 (0)
pierceite
50; I (A 0.20) *
CuSe2
33 (3)
twist
248; III (I;A)
(Cu,Hg)2Sb(Se,S)3
33 (3)
hakit
352; IV (I,A)
Ag2S
33 (3)
Argentine
20-30; I (I).
Cu4(Bi,Fe)Bi5S11
32-33 (2)
hodrushit
50; I (A 0.04)
CuFeSe2
30-33 (3)
eskebornite
141-165; II (A0.08)
CuMnO2
23-33 (3)
krednerite
200; III (A0.00)
Cu9Ag5HgS8
26-33 (5)
balkanite
79-92; I (A0,21)
Ag3AuSe2
32 (3)
physoesserite
32; I (I).
Cu3(As,V)S4
32 (2)
arsenosulvanite
50; I (I).
Cu12(Te,Sb,As)4S13
32 (0)
goldfieldite
50; I (I).
(Cu,Ag)10(Fe,Zn,Cu,Hg,Cd)2(Sb,As)4S13
32 (4)
tetrahedrite
230-350; III-IV (I)
Mo5FeS11
30-32 (2)
femolite
150; II (A0,1)
TIFe2S3
25-32 (2)
picopolite
41; I (A0,2)
Cu2S
31 (4)
chalcosine
64-98; I (I, A).
(Tl,K)2Cu6SbS4
30-31 (2)
chalcothallitis
64-98; I (A)
TIAsS2
27-31 (3)
lorandite
40-57; I (A0,12)
CuAsS
30 (3)
laoutite
142-147; II (A0,0)
Cu3VS4
30 (3)
sulvanite
142-165; II (I)
(Ag,Cu)16Sb2S11
28-30 (3)
polybasite
98-129; I-II (A0.06)
Cu6Fe2GeS8
28-30 (1)
renierite
280-360; III-IV (A 0.06)
Ag5SbS4
27-30 (4)
stephanite
26-47; I (A0,11)
Cu3AsS4
27-30 (3)
luzonite
257-432; III-V (A0,10)
Tl4Hg3Sb2As8S20
27-30 (3)
vrbaite
50; I (A 0.10) *
(Ag,Cu)2S
27-30 (1)
maquinstritis
60; I (A 0.11)
KFe2S3
15-30 (3)
swell
24-43; I (A0,5)
HgSe
28 (3)
thymannite
32-39; I (I).
Cu6Hg3As4Si2
29 (0)
actashit
229-310; III-IV (I)
Cu6As4S9
29 (3)
zinnerite
357-390; IV (A0,0)
Cu26V2(As,Sn,Sb,Ge)6S32
29 (3)
colusitis
296-376; III-IV (I)
SbAsS3
26-29 (3)
gotchellite
42-82; I (A0,10)
Fe2O3
25-29 (6)
hematite
920-1067; VII (A0,11) *
Cu3FeS4
28-29 (4)
idait
71-148; I-II (A0.03)
HgS
24-29 (5)
cinnabar
48-120; I-II (A0,16)
CuReS4
28 (2)
jezkazganite
224-235; III (I)
Cu2FeSnS4
28 (4)
stannin
206-307; III-IV (A0,0)
Cu10(Fe,Pb)S6
27-28 (3)
betechtinite
165-193; II (A0.02)
Cu2(Zn,Fe)GeS4
27 (3)
briartite
200; III (I).
(Cu,Ag)10(Zn,Fe,Cu,Hg)2(As,Sb)4S13
27 (3)
tenantitis
350-425; IV-V () *
Ag3SbS3
26-28 (4)
pyrargyrite
66-165; I-II (A0.08)
Cu6Fe2SnS8
26-28 (3)
moissonite
185-265; II-III (A)
AgCuS
25-28 (3)
stromeyerite
40-54; I (A0,10)
Cu3AsS4
25-28 (4)
enargitis
292-327; III-IV (A0,12)
(Pb,Cd)(Fe,Cu)8S8
27 (2)
shadlunit
195;-210; II-III (A)
(Tl,Pb)2As5S9
26-27 (3)
gutchinsonite
170; II (A0.04)
(Hg,Cd)S
26 (1)
saucovite
156; II (I, A)
Ci3SbS4
25-27 (3)
phamatinitis
205-397; III-IV (A0.09)
Cu8Fe3Sn2S12
23-27 (3)
stannoiditis
232-271; III (A0,12)
As2S3
18-27 (4)
auripigment
26-33; I (A0,33)
Ag2FeSnS4
26 (0)
ocartite
190-210; II-III (A)
Ag3AsS3
23-26 (5)
prustic
75-187; I-II (A0,12)
Cu5Se4
17-25 (2)
atabascaite
78; I (A0,11)
Cu3SbSe4
25 (2)
perminjatite
234; III (A0,0)
Cu2O
25 (5)
cuprite
192-210; II-III (I;A)
FeIn2S4
25 (4)
indite
293-325; III-IV (I)
Cu2(Zn,Fe)SnS4
25 (3)
kösterite
292-325; III-IV (I)
Hg(Se,S)
25 (2)
onofrith
50; I (I).
Cu2Se
24 (3)
bercelianite
79-99; I (I).
HgS
24 (3)
methacinnabarite
74-86; I (I).
Cu5FeS4
24 (4)
bornite
84-133; I-II (I).
Ag8SnS6
24 (3)
canfielditis
105-133; II (A0.0)
Ag8GeS6
24 (3)
argyrodite
159-178; II (A0,0)
K6(Cu,Fe,Ni)24S26Cl
24 (3)
jerfisherite
155-193; II (AND)
MnO*MnO2*H2O
22-24 (4)
psilomelane
203-813; III-VII (A;I) *
(Hg,Cu,Zn)12-x(Tl,Ag,Cs)x(As,Sb)12S24
23 (3)
gallhite
171-205; II-III (I)
CuGaS2
23 (3)
gallite
405-460; V (I).
Cu26Fe2(Ge,As)6S32
23 (3)
germanite
348-458; IV-V (I)
CuInS2
22 (3)
rockesite
241; III (A0,0)
CuFeO2
22 (4)
delafossite
210-478; III-V (A)
TiO2
20-23 (6)
rutile
920-1210; VII (A 0.2) *
MnS
22-23 (4)
alabandin
140-156; II (AND) *
Pb(Fe,Mn)12O19
21-23 (3)
magnetoplumbite
841-868; VII (A 0.1) *
Cu2FeInS4
22 (1)
sakurait
200; III (A 0.0) *
C
7-22 (7)
graphite
7-12; I (A0,7)
FeFe2O4
21 (6)
magnetite
364-585; IV-VI (I)
FeTiO3
17-21 (4)
ilmenite
540-857; VI-VII (A 0.2)
4(Fe,Cu)S*3(Mg,Al)(OH)2
12-21 (3)
walleriite
50-93; I (A 0.41)
Cu2S2
4-21 (4)
covellin
77-90; I (A0,79)
AsS
18-20 (4)
realgar
50-57; I (A0.08) *
MnO(OH)
15-20 (4)
manganite
400-500; V-VI (A;I) *
(Fe,Mn)WO4
13-19 (4)
wolframite
232-626; III-VII (A0,1) *
y-Fe2O3
19 (4)
maghemite
357-387; IV (I) *
CdS
19 (4)
greenockite
52-91; I (I) *
Mn2O3
19 (4)
brownite
166-187; II (A) *
(TR,Th,U,Ca)(Ti,Nb)O3
18 (4)
loparite
500-550; VI (AND) *.
(Mg,Fe)2O4
17-18 (0)
magnesioferrite
627-910; VII (AND).
Cu3Te2
14-18 (3)
ricarditis
161-266; II-III (A 0.21)
Ag5SbS4
15-18 (3)
tapiolite
893-1132; VII (A 0.1) *
ZnFe2O4
17 (4)
franklinite
753-794; VII (AND) *
ZnS
16-17 (5)
sphalerite
161-189; II (AND) *.
Fe3O4+(Fe,Mg)TiO4
17 (4)
titanomagnetite
460-642; V-VII (I).
Cu6PbO8
17 (0)
merdochit
566-657; VI-VII (I)
C
17 (8)
diamond
10,000; VII (AND) *
PbO2
16-17 (3)
plattnerite
519-642; VI-VII (A0.04)
FeOOH
15-17 (5)
goethite
420-662; V-VII (A) *
(Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6
15-17 (4)
columbite
795-868; VII (A0,1) *
UO2+x
16 (4)
pitchblende
782-839; VII (AND).
UO2-x
15 (1)
nasturan
673-803; VII (AND)
(Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)2O4
14-15 (0)
wojinit
766-899; VII (A 0.08) *
Cu3Se2
12-15 (3)
umangite
77-108; I-II (A 0.22)
S
11-15 (6)
sulphur
24-35; I (A0,26) *
MgTiO3
12-14 (3)
gaykilitis
900-930; VII (A0,14)
FeCr2O4
12 (5)
chromite
1195-1561; VII (AND) *.
PbCO3
8-12 (5)
cerussite
210-300; III-IV (A) *
SnO2
11-13 (5)
cassiterite
731-1528; VII (A0,16) *
(Ca,Na)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F)
12 (5)
microlite
617-830; VII (AND).
CaWO4
10 (3)
scheelite
392-412; IV-V (I) *
CaFe2Fe(OHOSi2O7)
7-10 (4)
ilvaite
614-1050; VII (A 0.33) *
U(SiO4)1-x(OH)4x
9 (4)
coffinite
236-333; III-IV (I)
PbSO4
9 (3)
anglesite
60-110; I-II (A;I) *
FeAl2O4
8 (4)
hercinite
1402-1561; VII (AND) *.
MgAl2O4
7 (6)
spinel
1505-1650; VII (AND) *.
(Ba,Sr,Ca,Pb)SO4
6 (5)
barite
127-232; II-III (I) *
CaCO3
4-6 (6)
calcite
103-202; II-III (A) *
SiO2
4-5 (7)
quartz
1023-1236; VII () *.