Crystal Identification Chart
A quick-reference chart of common crystals with the properties that identify them — colour, lustre, hardness and crystal system. Use it alongside the guided identifier.
| Stone | Clues |
|---|---|
| Diamond | clear/yellow/brown/gray · Adamantine · Mohs 10 (defining mineral) |
| Sapphire | blue · Vitreous · Mohs 9.0 |
| Lapis Lazuli | blue |
| Sulfur | yellow |
| Obsidian | black/green/brown/yellow · Vitreous · Mohs 5–6 |
| Snowflake Obsidian | black/white/green/brown/yellow · Vitreous · Mohs 5–6 |
| Clear Quartz | clear/white/pink/orange · Vitreous – waxy to dull when massive · Mohs 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral) |
| Amethyst | purple · Vitreous/glassy · Mohs 7 (lower in impure varieties) |
| Amber | yellow/orange/brown |
| Opal | white/clear/yellow/red · Subvitreous to waxy · Mohs 5.5–6 |
| Jade | green · waxy · Mohs 6–7 |
| Ruby | red · Subadamantine, vitreous, pearly (on partings) · Mohs 9.0 |
| Pyrite | gold/yellow · Metallic, glistening · Mohs 6–6.5 |
| Bismuth | gray |
| Emerald | green · Vitreous · Mohs 7.5–8 |
| Basalt | black/gray |
| Pearl | white/pink/gray/brown · Mohs 2.5–4.5 |
| Gypsum | white/clear/yellow/blue · Vitreous to silky, pearly, or waxy · Mohs 1.5–2 (defining mineral for 2) |
| Agate | brown/white/gray/blue/red/clear/black · Waxy, vitreous when polished · Mohs 6.5–7 |
| Moissanite | clear/green/yellow · Adamantine to metallic · Mohs ~9.5 |
| Garnet | red/blue · vitreous to resinous · Mohs 6.5–7.5 |
| Turquoise | blue/green · Waxy to subvitreous · Mohs 5–6 |
| Cinnabar | red/brown/gray · Adamantine to dull · Mohs 2.0–2.5 |
| Tourmaline | black/pink/green/clear/brown/red · Vitreous, sometimes resinous · Mohs 7.0–7.5 |
| Onyx | black/white/red/brown · Vitreous, silky · Mohs 6.5–7 |
| Peridot | green/yellow/brown · Vitreous to oily · Mohs 6.5–7 |
| Jasper | red/brown/green/yellow · Vitreous · Mohs 6.5–7 |
| Topaz | blue/yellow/clear/white/brown · Vitreous · Mohs 8 (defining mineral) |
| Hematite | black/gray/red · Metallic to splendent · Mohs 5.5–6.5 |
| Aquamarine Beryl | blue/green/yellow/clear · Vitreous to resinous · Mohs 7.5–8.0 |
| Tanzanite | blue/purple · Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces · Mohs 6.5 |
| Calcite | clear/white/orange/brown · Vitreous to pearly on cleavage surfaces · Mohs 3 (defining mineral) |
| Malachite | green/black/yellow · Adamantine to vitreous; silky if fibrous; dull to earthy if massive · Mohs 3.5–4 |
| Chalcedony | blue/white/gray · Waxy, vitreous, dull, greasy, silky · Mohs 6–7 |
| Zircon | clear/brown/blue/red/yellow/green · Vitreous to adamantine; greasy when metamict · Mohs 7.5 |
| Magnetite | black/gray/brown · Metallic · Mohs 5.5–6.5 |
| Carnelian | orange/red/brown · Waxy to resinous · Mohs 6.5–7.0 |
| Fluorite | purple/green/blue/clear/red/yellow · Vitreous · Mohs 4 (defining mineral) |
| Spinel | red/blue/black/pink/purple · Vitreous · Mohs 7.5–8.0 |
| Moldavite | green · Vitreous · Mohs 5.5 |