This page brings together a complete list of 30 minerals that start with the letter M, running alphabetically from “Magnetite” to “Magnesiohornblende”. These minerals range from common rock-forming materials to rare collector’s specimens, and many show striking colors, crystal shapes, or magnetic and shimmering qualities. People rely on them as ores for metals like iron, copper, and nickel, and value others as gemstones, ornamental stones, and industrial materials.
Minerals are naturally occurring solid substances with a specific chemical makeup and an orderly internal crystal structure. They form deep underground or near the surface through cooling, pressure, and chemical change over long periods of time. People have used minerals for thousands of years, and the natural magnetism of magnetite once guided sailors through some of the earliest compasses.
Below you’ll find the table with the mineral names and their descriptions.
Mineral: the name of each mineral on the list, arranged alphabetically so you can quickly scan, find, and compare the entries you care about.
Description: a short, plain-language summary of what each mineral is, what it looks like, and how people use or collect it.
Minerals
Mineral
Magnetite
Malachite
Marcasite
Microcline
Molybdenite
Monazite
Moissanite
Moonstone
Morganite
Muscovite
Magnesite
Manganite
Marialite
Mimetite
Mottramite
Microlite
Millerite
Magnesioferrite
Montmorillonite
Murdochite
Magnesiochromite
Manganocalcite
Mesolite
Meionite
Mendipite
Metacinnabar
Miargyrite
Mottramite
Mullite
Magnesiohornblende
Descriptions
Magnetite
A black, magnetic iron oxide and one of the main ores of iron. Its natural magnetism was used in early compasses, and it forms striking octahedral crystals.
Malachite
A vivid green copper carbonate prized for ornamental carvings and jewelry. Its swirling banded patterns make it instantly recognizable in polished form.
Marcasite
A pale brassy iron sulfide closely related to pyrite but more brittle and prone to crumbling. It has been used historically in costume jewelry.
Microcline
A common feldspar mineral that can appear in a striking blue-green variety called amazonite. It is widely found in granites and pegmatites.
Molybdenite
A soft, metallic gray sulfide and the chief ore of molybdenum. Its greasy feel and flaky layers resemble graphite.
Monazite
A reddish-brown phosphate mineral and an important source of rare-earth elements and thorium. It often occurs as small grains in sand deposits.
Moissanite
An extremely hard silicon carbide mineral, rare in nature but famous as a brilliant diamond simulant. Natural crystals were first found in a meteorite.
Moonstone
A shimmering variety of feldspar known for its glowing, floating light effect called adularescence. It is a popular gemstone with a soft, milky sheen.
Morganite
A pink to peach-colored gem variety of beryl, related to emerald and aquamarine. Its delicate rosy hues make it a favorite in fine jewelry.
Muscovite
A common, pale, transparent mica that splits into thin, flexible sheets. It was once used as window panes and is found in many granites and schists.
Magnesite
A white to grayish magnesium carbonate often used to produce magnesium and refractory bricks. It can resemble unglazed porcelain in massive form.
Manganite
A dark, steel-gray manganese oxide that forms striking elongated crystals. It serves as a minor ore of manganese.
Marialite
A member of the scapolite group, occasionally cut as a pale gemstone. It forms in metamorphic and igneous environments.
Mimetite
A yellow to orange lead arsenate mineral that forms small, rounded, barrel-shaped crystals. It is a collector’s favorite for its bright colors.
Mottramite
A green to brownish lead-copper vanadate mineral that forms crusts and small crystals. It is associated with oxidized ore deposits.
Microlite
A pale, often yellowish mineral rich in tantalum, found in granite pegmatites. It is a minor source of the metal tantalum.
Millerite
A brassy nickel sulfide that grows in delicate, hair-like needle crystals. It is a minor ore of nickel and prized by collectors.
Magnesioferrite
A magnetic magnesium-iron oxide related to magnetite. It typically forms in high-temperature volcanic and metamorphic settings.
Montmorillonite
A very soft clay mineral that swells dramatically when wet. It is a key component of bentonite clay used in drilling and cosmetics.
Murdochite
A rare black copper-lead oxide mineral that forms tiny crystals in oxidized copper zones. It is mainly of interest to mineral collectors.
Magnesiochromite
A dark chromium-rich spinel mineral found in some igneous rocks. It is a minor source of chromium.
Manganocalcite
A pink, manganese-bearing variety of calcite popular as a soft, soothing display stone. Its rosy banding makes it attractive to collectors.
Mesolite
A delicate, needle-like zeolite mineral that forms fuzzy, hair-thin white crystals. It occurs in cavities within volcanic basalt rocks.
Meionite
A calcium-rich member of the scapolite group found in metamorphic rocks. It can occasionally be faceted into pale gemstones.
Mendipite
A rare, white to pinkish lead oxychloride mineral that forms fibrous masses. It is named after the Mendip Hills in England.
Metacinnabar
A black mercury sulfide and a less common form of cinnabar. It is a minor ore of mercury found in low-temperature deposits.
Miargyrite
A dark, lead-gray silver antimony sulfide that is a minor silver ore. It forms small, often striated crystals in hydrothermal veins.
Mottramite
A green to yellow-brown vanadate mineral of lead and copper. It forms as crusts in the oxidized zones of metal deposits.
Mullite
A rare aluminum silicate mineral important in ceramics and refractories. In nature it forms where rocks are heated by volcanic contact.
Magnesiohornblende
A common dark amphibole mineral found in many igneous and metamorphic rocks. It forms elongated, prismatic crystals.
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