rare mineral
Hard to find
A rare mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic substance found in limited quantities in the Earth's crust.
Rarity may stem from unusual geological conditions required for formation, limited geographic distribution, or both.
Some rare minerals are prized by collectors for their scarcity and appearance, while others have industrial significance despite being difficult to obtain.
The museum's collection includes several rare minerals found only in a single mine in Madagascar.
- scandiumElement twenty-one
- berylliumFourth periodic table element
- yttriumElement number thirty-nine
- lithiumLightest solid element
- painiteScarce borate mineral
cerium · niobium · tantalum · crystallography · luster · kimberlite · volcanic rock · gem quality · coltan · blood diamond · mining rights · mineralogy · specific gravity · prized · collector's item · museum piece · lapidary · deposit