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Mineral Collection

The EPS Mineral Collection which contains over 13,000 specimens is housed in room 314 of the Harvard Science Center and consists of the following:

Mineral Study Samples

Stored in both the green steel cases adjoining the windows at the side of room 314 as well as in the blue glass fronted cases facing the sink area to the back of the room. Additionally, there are exceptional specimens from the collection located in locked display cases (and in the case of the large examples, on the counter abutting the windows) throughout rooms 314 and 312.  The Mineral Study Samples are for visual study only (not for physical tests).  Permission is required to borrow the Mineral Study Samples.  

 

Mineral Test Samples and Sets

Stored in the four glass fronted blue cases closest to the window in the sink area to the back of room 314.  These samples are designated for physical testing in the labs (for example, these specimens are appropriate for scratch, streak or cleaving tests).

Collection Details

Mineral Study Samples

  • Elements: (drawers) 1-6

  • Sulfides, Arsenides, Sulfosalts: 7-28

  • Oxides, Hydroxides: 29-47

  • Haloids: 48-51

  • Carbonates: 52-64
  • Borates, Nitrates: 65-66
  • Phosphates, Arsenates, Vanadates: 67-70 
  • Sulfates: 71-77
  • Tungstates, Molybdates: 78-79 
  • Silicates: 80-154
    • Quartz varieties: 80-90
    • Feldspars: 91-97
    • Zeolites and other “traprock” minerals
    • Micas: 115-120
    • Amphiboles: 121-125

    • Pyroxenes, Pyroxenoids: 126-132

 

 

Oversized Mineral Study Samples

  • Elements, Sulfides, Arsenides, Sulfosalts: 155-157
  • Oxides: 158-159

  • Haloids: 160

  • Carbonates: 161-162

  • Borates, Nitrates, Sulfates: 163
  • Phosphates: 164
Silicates: 164-170

 

 

Mineral Test Samples

  • Elements, Sulfides, Arsenides, Sulfosalts: 171-173

  • Oxides: 174-180
 
  • Haloids: 181-182 
  • Carbonates: 183-186 
  • Borates, Nitrates, Phosphates: 187 
  • Sulfates: 188-190
  
  • Silicates: 190-206
    • Quartz: 191-192
 
    • Feldspar: 193-195
    • Talc: 197
    • Serpentine Group: 198 
    • Micas: 199

    • Amphiboles: 200) 
    • Pyroxenes: 201

 

 

Mineral Sets for Class Use

Stored in drawers immediately following the Mineral Test Samples. Testing kits containing:

  • Streak Plates (white and black)
  • Glass Plates
  • Copper Pennies

  • Steel files
  • Magnets

 

 

Mineral Hardness Testing Sets

  • Talc
  • Gypsum
  • Calcite

  • Fluorite

  • Apatite

  • Feldspar
  • Quartz

  • Topaz

  • Corundum
See also: Collections