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 |
|---|---|
| Gold | gold/yellow · Metallic · Mohs 2.5–3 |
| Silver | gray/white · Metallic · Mohs 2.5–3 |
| Copper | orange/brown/red · Metallic · Mohs 2.5–3 |
| Diamond | clear/yellow/brown/gray/blue/green/black/white/pink/purple/orange/red · Adamantine · Mohs 10 (defining mineral) |
| Sapphire | blue · Vitreous · Mohs 9.0 |
| Lapis Lazuli | blue · Dull to vitreous · Mohs 5–5.5 |
| Sulfur | yellow · Resinous to greasy · Mohs 1.5–2.5 |
| Obsidian | black · Vitreous · Mohs 5–6 |
| Snowflake Obsidian | black/white · Vitreous · Mohs 5–6 |
| Clear Quartz | clear/white · Vitreous – waxy to dull when massive · Mohs 7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral) |
| Limestone | white/gray/brown |
| Amethyst | purple · Vitreous/glassy · Mohs 7 (lower in impure varieties) |
| Amber | yellow/orange/brown · Resinous · Mohs 2–2.5 |
| Opal | white/clear/yellow/red/orange/green/brown/black/blue/pink · Subvitreous to waxy · Mohs 5.5–6 |
| Jade | green · waxy · Mohs 6–7 |
| Borax | white/clear/gray · Vitreous to earthy · Mohs 2–2.5 |
| Granite | pink/gray/white |
| Ruby | red · Subadamantine, vitreous, pearly (on partings) · Mohs 9.0 |
| Pyrite | gold/yellow · Metallic, glistening · Mohs 6–6.5 |
| Bismuth | gray · Metallic (often iridescent) · Mohs 2–2.5 |
| Emerald | green · Vitreous · Mohs 7.5–8 |
| Basalt | black/gray |
| Pearl | white · Mohs 2.5–4.5 |
| Gypsum | white/clear · Vitreous to silky, pearly, or waxy · Mohs 1.5–2 (defining mineral for 2) |
| Marble | white/gray |
| Agate | brown/white/gray/blue · Waxy, vitreous when polished · Mohs 6.5–7 |
| Moissanite | clear · 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 · Adamantine to dull · Mohs 2.0–2.5 |
| Tourmaline | black/pink/green/clear/brown/red/orange/yellow/blue/purple · Vitreous, sometimes resinous · Mohs 7.0–7.5 |
| Onyx | black · Vitreous, silky · Mohs 6.5–7 |
| Peridot | green · Vitreous to oily · Mohs 6.5–7 |
| Jasper | red/brown/green · Vitreous · Mohs 6.5–7 |
| Topaz | blue/yellow/clear/white/brown/orange/gray/green/pink/red · Vitreous · Mohs 8 (defining mineral) |
| Hematite | black/gray · Metallic to splendent · Mohs 5.5–6.5 |
| Aquamarine Beryl | blue/green · Vitreous to resinous · Mohs 7.5–8.0 |
| Sandstone | brown/red/yellow |
| Flint | gray/black/brown |
| Corundum | red/blue/gray/clear · Adamantine to vitreous · Mohs 9 (defining mineral) |