There are 120 minerals that start with the letter B. From Babbingtonite to Burgessite. Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a defined chemical composition and a crystalline structure. They are the building blocks of rocks and are classified based on their chemical properties, crystal structure, and texture. Minerals form through a variety of geological processes, including crystallization from molten rock, precipitation from solutions, and metamorphism under high pressure and temperature. They are essential not only for geological processes but also for many industrial applications and are critical for life, serving as nutrients in biological systems.
An intriguing fact about minerals is that some larval insects use mineral particles from the environment to enhance their camouflage, adapting to their surroundings for protection against predators. This innovative use of minerals demonstrates the complex interactions between organisms and their natural habitats.
Here’s what each of the columns in the table means:
Column Name: This column indicates the specific chemical elements or compounds that make up the mineral, defining its identity and properties.
Mohs hardness: This column provides a numerical scale from 1 to 10 that ranks the hardness of the mineral based on its ability to scratch or be scratched by other substances.
Common uses: This column outlines the various applications or industries where the mineral is utilized, highlighting its practical importance in everyday life and technology.
Description: This column includes a brief overview of the mineral’s appearance, characteristics, and unique features, providing essential information for identification and understanding its role in geology and industry.
Minerals That Start With B
Minerals | chemical composition | Mohs hardness | common uses |
---|---|---|---|
Babbingtonite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)Fe3+Si2O7(OH) | 5-6(5.5) | mineral specimen |
Babierite | (Ca,Na)B(OH)4 | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Babingtonite | Ca(Fe,Mn,Mg)Fe(SiO3)4 | 5-6(5.5) | rarely used as a gemstone |
Baculite | CaCO3 | 3-4(3.5) | mineral specimen |
Baddeleyite | ZrO2 | 6-6.5(6.0) | refractories, abrasives |
Badenite | (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 | 6.5-7(6.75) | Mineral specimen |
Bafertisit | BaFeTi2O6 | 5.5-6(5.75) | Mineral collector’s item |
Bafertisite | Ba(Fe2+,Mg)5Ti4O13(OH) | 6-7(6.5) | mineral specimen |
Bakerite | Ca2B5O9�8H2O | 2-2.5(2.0) | no major industrial uses |
Bakhchisaraitsevite | (Na,Ca,K)(B,Al)Si3O8�H2O | 5-6(5.5) | None |
Bakuninite | CuTl2S4 | 2-3(2.5) | Mineral collector’s item |
Balalaikaite | Pb2+Bi3+O2Cl | 3-4(3.5) | None |
Balangeroite | Mg6Fe3+2Si4O15(OH)4 | 5.5-6(5.75) | Mineral collector’s item |
Balcanoite | Mg2+Mn3+2O4 | 5-6(5.5) | None |
Balianaite | PbCrO4 | 2.5-3(2.75) | Pigment |
Balinite | MgS | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Ballistic Mineral | Various | 2-4(3.0) | Abrasives, fillers |
Balyakinite | Cu2+O(OH) | 3-4(3.5) | Copper ore |
Bamaroite | (Na,Ca)2(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | Uranium ore |
Bamfordite | NaFe3+O2 | 5-6(5.5) | None |
Banalsite | BaNa2Si4O10 | 5-6(5.5) | no major industrial uses |
Bancrofite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Bandylite | Cu2+Cl(OH) | 3-4(3.5) | Copper ore |
Bannisterite | (K,Ca)0.5(Mg,Fe2+,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4�4-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Baotite | Ba2TiNb4O13 | 5-6(5.5) | None |
Barberiite | NaAl(SO4)2 | 2.5-3(2.75) | Mineral collector’s item |
Barbertonite | MgCr2O4 | 7-8(7.5) | None |
Barioferrite | BaFe12O19 | 5-6(5.5) | Magnetic materials |
Barite | BaSO4 | 3-3.5(3.0) | filler in rubber, paint, and plastics |
Barium Sulfide | BaS | 3-4(3.5) | Pyrotechnics, glass, ceramic industries |
Bariumfluoride | BaF2 | 4-5(4.5) | Glass, ceramics |
Bariumhexaaluminate | BaAl12O19 | 8.5-9(8.75) | Refractory materials |
Bariumplumbate | BaPbO3 | 3.5-4(3.75) | Pigment, glass |
Bariumpolysulfide | BaS2 | 2-3(2.5) | Mineral collector’s item |
Bariumsulfate | BaSO4 | 3-4(3.5) | Filler, pigment |
Barkerite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | Uranium ore |
Barleyite | Ba(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Barlowite | Cu4Fe(SO4)(OH)6 | 3-4(3.5) | None |
Barnesit | (Ni,Co)3(AsO4)2�8H2O | 3-4(3.5) | Nickel ore |
Barquillite | Cu2+Fe3+2O4 | 5-6(5.5) | None |
Barrande | Pb2+Fe2+Fe3+2O6 | 5-6(5.5) | None |
Barrelite | BeCrO4 | 4-5(4.5) | Mineral collector’s item |
Barrerite | (Na,Ca)2Al3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2�4H2O | 2-3(2.5) | no major industrial uses |
Barringerite | (Fe,Ni)2P | 6-7(6.5) | Mineral collector’s item |
Barringtonite | MgCl2�6H2O | 1-2(1.5) | None |
Barroisite | NaCa2(Mg,Fe2+)4Al(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2 | 5-6(5.5) | Abrasives, ceramics |
Bartelkeite | Pb2+Fe3+2O5 | 4-5(4.5) | None |
Bartonite | (NH4,K)Fe(SO4)2�6H2O | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Barysilite | Pb2+Mn2+2Si2O7 | 4-5(4.5) | None |
Basaluminite | Al4(SO4)(OH)10�5H2O | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Basanite | CaSO4�0.5H2O | 1.5-2(1.75) | Plaster, cement |
Basifuschite | K(Mg,Fe2+)(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2 | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Bassanite | CaSO4�1/2H2O | 2-2.5(2.0) | used in plaster of Paris |
Bassetite | Fe2+(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Bassettite | Fe2+(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | Uranium ore |
Bastnasite | (Ce,La)(CO3)F | 4-5(4.5) | Rare earth element source, gemstone |
Batisite | Na3(Ba,Sr)(Ti,Nb)5O13 | 5-6(5.5) | Mineral collector’s item |
Batopilasite | K(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Baumbergerite | Ba(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | Uranium ore |
Baumeisterite | CaUO2VO4(OH) | 3-4(3.5) | Uranium ore |
Baumhauerite | Pb4As6S13 | 2-3(2.5) | no major industrial uses |
Bayldonite | PbCu(AsO4)(OH) | 3.5-4(3.5) | no major industrial uses |
Bayleyite | Mg2(UO2)3(CO3)3(OH)4�18H2O | 2-3(2.5) | Uranium ore |
Bazzite | Be3(Sc,Al)2Si6O18 | 6-7(6.5) | Gemstones |
Bearsite | Cu3AsO4(OH)3 | 3-4(3.5) | None |
Beaverite | PbCu(Fe,Cr)4(SO4)2(OH)6 | 2.5-3(2.75) | Mineral collector’s item |
Bechererite | (Mn,Fe)2(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Bederite | NaFe3+2(PO4)2(OH) | 5-6(5.5) | None |
Behierite | NaCu3(AsO4)2(OH)3 | 3-4(3.5) | None |
Beidellite | (Na,Ca)0.3(Al,Mg)2(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2�nH2O | 1-2(1.5) | used in drilling muds |
Beilite | Ca2(UO2)3(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Bejaminite | Cu2+Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 | 3.5-4(3.75) | Mineral collector’s item |
Belinite | Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2 | 5.5-6(5.75) | Mineral collector’s item |
Bementite | Mn2+6Si4O10(OH)8 | 3-4(3.5) | None |
Benavidesite | Mg(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | None |
Benitoite | BaTiSi3O9 | 6-6.5(6.0) | gemstone, used in jewelry |
Beraunite | Fe2+Fe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5�2-3H2O | 4-5(4.5) | no major industrial uses |
Berborite | Cu2+Cu2+2(VO4)2(OH)2 | 4-5(4.5) | no major industrial uses |
Bergenite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | Mineral collector’s item |
Berlinite | AlPO4 | 7-7.5(7.0) | used in ceramics and electronic components |
Bermanite | Mn2+3(AsO4)2�4H2O | 3-4(3.5) | Mineral collector’s item |
Bersellite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2�6H2O | 2-3(2.5) | Mineral collector’s item |
Berthierite | FeSb2S4 | 4-5(4.5) | no major industrial uses |
Beryl | Be3Al2(SiO3)6 | 7.5-8(7.5) | gemstones, source of beryllium |
Beryl-group minerals | Be3Al2(SiO3)6 | 7.5-8(7.5) | gemstones, source of beryllium |
Betafite | (Ca,U,Y,Na)(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6 | 5-6(5.5) | no major industrial uses |
Betechtinite | (Cu,Fe)9S8 | 2.5-3(2.5) | no major industrial uses |
Beudantite | PbFe3(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)6 | 3.5-4(3.5) | no major industrial uses |
Beuteite | (U,Ca)(Ti,Nb)4O11 | 5.5-6(5.75) | Mineral collector’s item |
Bezsmertnovite | Zn2(VO4)(OH) | 4-5(4.5) | no major industrial uses |
Bialystokite | (Ca,Na)(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | Mineral collector’s item |
Bieberite | CoSO4�7H2O | 1.5-2(1.5) | no major industrial uses |
Biehlite | Mn2+Mn3+2O4 | 5-6(5.5) | Mineral collector’s item |
Bixbyite | Mn2+Mn3+2O3 | 6-6.5(6.0) | used in ferrites |
Bobierrite | Mg3(PO4)2�8H2O | 2-2.5(2.0) | no major industrial uses |
Boehmite | ?-AlO(OH) | 3-3.5(3.0) | used in catalysts and adsorbents |
Boleite | Pb26Cu24Cl62(OH)48 | 3-3.5(3.0) | no major industrial uses |
Boltwoodite | (K,Na)(UO2)(SiO3OH)(H2O)1-1.5 | 3-4(3.5) | no major industrial uses |
Bonattite | Cu2+SO4�3H2O | 2.5-3(2.5) | no major industrial uses |
Borax | Na2B4O7�10H2O | 1-1.5(1.0) | used in detergents, glass, and cosmetics |
Bornite | Cu5FeS4 | 2-3(2.5) | ore of copper |
Borolanite | (Na,Ca)4(Ti,Nb)2(Si,Al)4O14(OH)2 | 5-6(5.5) | no major industrial uses |
Boromuscovite | KMg2(BO3)(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | 2-3(2.5) | no major industrial uses |
Boron | B | 9-10(9.5) | used in glass, ceramics, and semiconductors |
Boutonnite | CaO�2B2O3�3H2O | 3.5-4(3.5) | no major industrial uses |
Bowieite | Ru2+S3 | 5-6(5.5) | no major industrial uses |
Braitschite | (Na,K)Ca2(UO2)2(VO4)2�6-8H2O | 2-3(2.5) | no major industrial uses |
Brandtite | Ca2(AsO4)(OH) | 4-5(4.5) | no major industrial uses |
Braunite | Mn2+Mn3+6SiO12 | 6-6.5(6.0) | used in ferrites and glass |
Breithauptite | NiSb | 5-6(5.5) | no major industrial uses |
Breunnerite | (Mg,Fe)CO3 | 3.5-4(3.5) | no major industrial uses |
Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 | 3.5-4(3.5) | pigment, insecticide |
Brookite | TiO2 | 5.5-6(5.5) | used in paints and pigments |
Brownleeite | MnTi2O4 | 5.5-6(5.5) | no major industrial uses |
Brownmillerite | Ca2(Fe,Al)2O5 | 11-12(11.5) | used in the production of cement |
Brushite | CaHPO4�2H2O | 2-2.5(2.0) | no major industrial uses |
Buchwaldite | Na(Mn2+,Fe2+)(SO4)2 | 3-4(3.5) | no major industrial uses |
Bunsenite | NiO | 5-6(5.5) | used in ceramics and glass |
Burangaite | Mg2+Fe3+2(BO3)2Cl(OH) | 5-6(5.5) | no major industrial uses |
Burgessite | (Mg,Fe2+)B2(OH)6 | 3-4(3.5) | no major industrial uses |
Descriptions
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