Editor’s Note
This article explores the fascinating world of minerals, from the abundant silicates that form common quartz and precious emeralds to the elemental simplicity of gold and diamonds, and the organic origins of pearls and amber. It highlights how their unique chemical structures underpin both their beauty and their immense economic value.
Designer Julie Peasley grouped more than 150 minerals, gems, and precious stones by their dominant chemical composition.
Each category (arsenates, halides, oxides, and the sprawling family of silicates) reveals how atoms arrange themselves under heat, pressure, and time to create the colorful crystals we prize.
The table below lists every specimen in the visualization, along with its primary chemical group for quick reference.
Mineral/Gem | Main Classification
— | —
Adamite | Arsenate
Erythrite | Arsenate
Mimetite | Arsenate
Howlite | Borate
Colemanite | Borate
Ulexite | Borate
Aragonite | Carbonate
Azurite | Carbonate
Calcite | Carbonate
Cerussite | Carbonate
Dolomite | Carbonate
Magnesite | Carbonate
Malachite | Carbonate
Rhodochrosite | Carbonate
Smithsonite | Carbonate
Aurichalcite | Carbonate
Siderite | Carbonate
Beryl–Aquamarine | Cyclosilicate
Beryl–Bixbite | Cyclosilicate
Beryl–Emerald | Cyclosilicate
Beryl–Heliodor | Cyclosilicate
Beryl–Morganite | Cyclosilicate
Cordierite–Iolite | Cyclosilicate
Dioptase | Cyclosilicate
Sugilite (Luvulite) | Cyclosilicate
Tourmaline–Indicolite | Cyclosilicate
Watermelon Tourmaline | Cyclosilicate
Black Tourmaline | Cyclosilicate
Benitoite | Cyclosilicate
Goshenite | Cyclosilicate
Eudialyte | Cyclosilicate
Atacamite | Halide
Creedite | Halide
Cryolite | Halide
Fluorite | Halide
Halite | Halide
Sylvite | Halide
Brucite | Hydroxide
Diaspore | Hydroxide
Goethite | Hydroxide
Manganite | Hydroxide
Actinolite–Nephrite | Inosilicate
Charoite | Inosilicate
Diopside | Inosilicate
Jadeite | Inosilicate
Rhodonite | Inosilicate
Spodumene–Hiddenite | Inosilicate
Spodumene–Kunzite | Inosilicate
Opal | Mineraloid
Obsidian | Mineraloid
Modlavite | Mineraloid
Bismuth | Native Element
Copper | Native Element
Diamond | Native Element
Gold | Native Element
Platinum | Native Element
Silver | Native Element
Sulphur | Native Element
Andalucite | Nesosilicate
Andalucite-Chiastolite | Nesosilicate
Dumortierite | Nesosilicate
Garnet-Almandine | Nesosilicate
Garnet-Andradite–Demantoid | Nesosilicate
Garnet-Andradite–Melanite | Nesosilicate
Garnet-Andradite–Topazolite | Nesosilicate
Garnet–Grossular–Hessonite | Nesosilicate
Garnet–Grossular–Tsavorite | Nesosilicate
Garnet–Pyrope | Nesosilicate
Garnet–Rhodolite | Nesosilicate
Garnet–Spessartine | Nesosilicate
Garnet–Uvarovite | Nesosilicate
Kyanite (Disthene) | Nesosilicate
Peridot (Olivine, Chrysolite) | Nesosilicate
Phenakite | Nesosilicate
Staurolite | Nesosilicate
Titanite | Nesosilicate
Topaz | Nesosilicate
Zircon | Nesosilicate
Datolite | Nesosilicate
Amber | Organic
Coral | Organic
Pearl | Organic
Cassiterite | Oxide
Chrysoberyl–Alexandrite | Oxide
Corundum–Ruby | Oxide
Corundum–Sapphire | Oxide
Cuprite | Oxide
Hematite | Oxide
Magnetite | Oxide
Rutile | Oxide
Spinel | Oxide
Zincite | Oxide
Chrysoberyl | Oxide
Chromite | Oxide
Brookite | Oxide
Columbite | Oxide
Apatite | Phosphate
Brazilianite | Phosphate
Lazulite | Phosphate
Phosphosiderite | Phosphate
Purpurite | Phosphate
Pyromorphite | Phosphate
Turquoise | Phosphate
Vanadinite | Phosphate
Variscite | Phosphate
Herderite | Phosphate
Wavellite | Phosphate
Autunite | Phosphate
Apophyllite | Phyllosilicate
Chrysocolla | Phyllosilicate
Kämmererite (Clinochore) | Phyllosilicate
Lepidolite | Phyllosilicate
Muscovite | Phyllosilicate
Phlogopite | Phyllosilicate
Prehnite | Phyllosilicate
Serpentine (Chrysotile) | Phyllosilicate
Axinite | Sorosilicate
Danburite | Sorosilicate
Epidote | Sorosilicate
Hemimorphite | Sorosilicate
Vesuvianite | Sorosilicate
Zoisite–Tanzanite | Sorosilicate
Zoisite–Thulite | Sorosilicate
Zoisite | Sorosilicate
Wulfenite | Sulfate
Anhydrite | Sulfate
Brochantite | Sulfate
Celestite | Sulfate
Chalcanthite | Sulfate
Selenite | Sulfate
Scheelite | Sulfate
Acanthite | Sulfide
Bornite | Sulfide
Chalcopyrite | Sulfide
Cinnabar | Sulfide
Covellite | Sulfide
Galena | Sulfide
Marcasite | Sulfide
Millerite | Sulfide
Orpiment | Sulfide
Pyrite | Sulfide
Realgar | Sulfide
Sphalerite | Sulfide
Stibnite | Sulfide
Molybdenite | Sulfide
Albite | Tectosilicate
Amazonite | Tectosilicate
Chalcedony–Agate–Onyx | Tectosilicate
Chalcedony–Bloodstone (Heliotrope) | Tectosilicate
Chalcedony–Carnelian | Tectosilicate
Chalcedony–Chrysoprase | Tectosilicate
Chalcedony–Jasper | Tectosilicate
Heulandite | Tectosilicate
Labradorite | Tectosilicate
Lazurite | Tectosilicate
Nepheline | Tectosilicate
Oligoclase | Tectosilicate
Orthoclase (or Labradorite)-Sunstone | Tectosilicate
Orthoclase-Adularia | Tectosilicate
Orthoclase-Moonstone | Tectosilicate
Quartz Rock Crystal | Tectosilicate
Quartz–Amethyst | Tectosilicate
Quartz–Aventurine | Tectosilicate
Quartz–Citrine | Tectosilicate
Quartz–Herkimer Diamond | Tectosilicate
Quartz–Rose | Tectosilicate
Quartz–Smoky | Tectosilicate
Quartz–Tiger’s Eye | Tectosilicate
Quartz-Cat’s-eye | Tectosilicate
Sodalite | Tectosilicate
Agate | Tectosilicate
Orthoclase | Tectosilicate
Thomsonite | Tectosilicate
Stilbite | Tectosilicate
Hauyne | Tectosilicate
The silicate groups alone account for over half of the entries, while rarer classes such as organic, borate, and mineraloid contribute only a trio of examples each—showing how geology favors some atomic recipes over others.