This page brings together 19 minerals that start with the letter H, running alphabetically from “Halite” to “Hambergite.” These minerals range from common rock salt and iron ores to rare gemstones and clay used in fine ceramics. You’ll find materials that show up in everyday table salt, in jewelry, in industrial products, and even in medical implants, making this a varied group worth exploring.
Minerals are naturally occurring solid substances with a defined chemical makeup and an orderly crystal structure. They form the building blocks of rocks and have shaped human life for ages, from the salt that once served as currency to the colorful gems prized by collectors. Some, like the blue mineral that gives lapis lazuli its rich color, have decorated art and treasures for thousands of years.
Below you’ll find the table with the mineral names and their descriptions.
Mineral: the name of each mineral on this list, arranged in alphabetical order so you can quickly scan, locate, and compare any item you want.
Description: a short, plain summary of what each mineral is, how it forms, and where you might encounter or use it.
Minerals
Mineral
Halite
Hematite
Hornblende
Hypersthene
Heulandite
Hauyne
Hessonite
Hiddenite
Howlite
Hydroxyapatite
Hutchinsonite
Humite
Hercynite
Hemimorphite
Halloysite
Hanksite
Hydromagnesite
Halotrichite
Hambergite
Descriptions
Halite
Common rock salt, a soft cubic mineral made of sodium chloride. It forms in evaporating seawater and salt lakes, and is the source of table salt used worldwide.
Hematite
A widespread iron oxide and the most important ore of iron. Its color ranges from steel gray to brick red, and a polished surface gives a bright metallic luster.
Hornblende
A dark green to black silicate of the amphibole group, common in many igneous and metamorphic rocks. Its long, bladed crystals help geologists identify rock types.
Hypersthene
A dark, iron-magnesium silicate of the pyroxene family. It often shows a bronzy sheen and is found in volcanic rocks and meteorites.
Heulandite
A glassy zeolite mineral that forms platy, pearly crystals in cavities of volcanic rock. It is prized by collectors for its delicate, often colorless to pink crystals.
Hauyne
A blue silicate mineral in the sodalite group, valued as a component of the gemstone lapis lazuli. It forms in volcanic and silica-poor rocks.
Hessonite
A warm orange to cinnamon-brown variety of grossular garnet. Sometimes called the cinnamon stone, it is cut as a gemstone and shows a distinctive honey glow.
Hiddenite
A green, gem-quality variety of spodumene colored by chromium. Discovered in North Carolina, it is a rare and sought-after collector’s gemstone.
Howlite
A soft white mineral laced with gray or black veining. Because it dyes easily, it is often colored blue and sold as imitation turquoise.
Hydroxyapatite
A calcium phosphate mineral that is the main inorganic building block of bones and teeth. It also forms in rocks and is used in medical implants.
Hutchinsonite
A rare and toxic sulfide containing thallium, lead, and arsenic. It forms tiny red to brown crystals prized by serious mineral collectors.
Humite
An orange to brown magnesium silicate found in marbles and contact zones. It belongs to a small family of related minerals and occasionally yields gem material.
Hercynite
A dark, iron-rich member of the spinel group. This black, hard oxide forms in high-temperature metamorphic and igneous rocks.
Hemimorphite
A zinc silicate that forms blue to green botryoidal crusts, often confused with smithsonite. Its crystals are notable for having different shapes at each end.
Halloysite
A clay mineral related to kaolinite, often forming tiny tubular particles. It is mined for use in fine ceramics, porcelain, and industrial applications.
Hanksite
An unusual evaporite mineral containing both carbonate and sulfate, found in dry lake beds. It forms yellow to gray hexagonal crystals, notably at Searles Lake.
Hydromagnesite
A soft white magnesium carbonate that forms in caves and altered magnesium rocks. It often appears as chalky crusts or small rosette clusters.
Halotrichite
A fibrous, hair-like sulfate sometimes called feather alum. It forms white to yellow needle clusters in coal and volcanic environments.
Hambergite
A rare, very hard beryllium borate mineral that yields colorless faceted gems. Its brilliance and durability make it a curiosity among collectors.
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