Minerals

Silicates: What to Record

Strunz class 9 - the largest class, divided by how the silicate tetrahedra are linked.

Kinds of Silicates

NesosilicatesIsolated tetrahedra, e.g. garnet group, olivine, topaz, zircon.

SorosilicatesPaired tetrahedra, e.g. epidote, vesuvianite, hemimorphite.

CyclosilicatesRing silicates, e.g. beryl, tourmaline group, dioptase.

InosilicatesChain silicates, e.g. pyroxenes, amphiboles, rhodonite.

PhyllosilicatesSheet silicates, e.g. micas, chlorite, apophyllite, prehnite.

TectosilicatesFramework silicates, e.g. feldspars, zeolites, sodalite (quartz is listed with the oxides in Strunz).

The Data Sheet for Silicates

The 44 fields worth recording for silicates, grouped as in the ordicio app. Fields marked with a broader category come from it; the others are specific to silicates.

Identification

Species Text Minerals: Mineral species as approved by the IMA (main species first), or the material for pearls and organic gems, e.g. Quartz, Corundum, Beryl.
Variety Text Minerals: Variety or trade name, e.g. Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Rose quartz.
Associated minerals Text Minerals: Other minerals on the specimen.
Chemical formula Text Minerals: Ideal formula as given by the IMA or mindat, e.g. SiO2, CaCO3.
Strunz code Text Minerals: Nickel-Strunz (10th edition) class code, e.g. 4.DA.05 for quartz.
Reference link Link Minerals: Web page about this object or its reference entry (catalogue, database, sale).

Properties

Physical properties of the species and this specimen.

Crystal system Choice Minerals: Crystal system of the species.
Cubic (isometric)
Tetragonal
Hexagonal
Trigonal
Orthorhombic
Monoclinic
Triclinic
Amorphous
Crystal habit Text Minerals: Shape of the crystals or aggregate, e.g. prismatic, cubic, botryoidal, acicular, twinned.
Colour Text Minerals: Colour or colours as seen in daylight, main colour first.
Luster Choice Minerals: How the surface reflects light.
Metallic
Submetallic
Adamantine
Vitreous
Resinous
Pearly
Silky
Greasy
Waxy
Dull / earthy
Transparency Choice Minerals: How much light passes through.
Transparent
Translucent
Opaque
Mohs hardness Number, 1 to 10 Minerals: Hardness on the Mohs scale (1 talc to 10 diamond).
Specific gravity Number Minerals: Density relative to water.
Streak Text Minerals: Colour of the powder on an unglazed porcelain plate.
Cleavage / fracture Text Minerals: How the mineral breaks, e.g. perfect cleavage in three directions, conchoidal fracture.
Fluorescence Text Minerals: Response to ultraviolet light, e.g. LW bright green, SW none.
Radioactive Choice Minerals: Whether the specimen is measurably radioactive (e.g. uraninite, autunite).
No
Yes (store and label accordingly)

Specimen

Size class Choice Minerals: Size class by the largest dimension as used by collectors and dealers (limits differ slightly between sources).
Micromount (needs magnification)
Thumbnail (up to about 3 cm)
Miniature (about 3 to 5 cm)
Small cabinet (about 5 to 10 cm)
Cabinet (about 10 to 20 cm)
Large cabinet / museum (over 20 cm)
Specimen form Choice, or your own Minerals: What the specimen consists of.
Single crystal (floater)
Crystal group
Crystals on matrix
Massive / rough
Slab or polished face
Sphere / carving
Height (cm) Number Minerals: Height, measured upright as the object is meant to stand or hang.
Width (cm) Number Minerals: Width, measured from the front.
Depth (cm) Number Minerals: Depth, measured from front to back.
Weight (g) Number Minerals: Weight of the object (without stand, frame or holder unless noted).
Treatment Text Minerals: Cleaning, acid treatment, oiling, dyeing, irradiation, heating, stabilising or repairs.

Origin

Where the specimen comes from.

Locality Text Minerals: Exact find site, as specific as possible, e.g. quarry, mine and level, beach, outcrop.
Region Text Minerals: State, province, county or district of the locality.
Country Text Minerals: Country of origin or issue, by its usual English name (historic states as named at the time, e.g. Kingdom of Bavaria).
Coordinates Place Minerals: Geographic position of the locality (keep private for sensitive sites).
Collected by Text Minerals: Person who collected or excavated the specimen.
Collection date Date Minerals: Date the specimen was collected in the field.
Labels Text Minerals: Old dealer and collection labels with their numbers, transcribed.

Condition

Condition Choice Minerals: Overall condition in plain terms; domains with an established grading scale use that scale instead.
Mint / as new
Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Condition notes Text Minerals: Faults, wear and damage in detail.

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date Minerals: Date the object came into the collection.
Acquisition method Choice, or your own Minerals: How the object came into the collection.
Purchase
Auction
Gift
Inheritance
Exchange / trade
Self-collected / found
Commission
Acquired from Text Minerals: Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.
Purchase price Amount Minerals: Price paid including fees and premiums.
Provenance Text Minerals: Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount Minerals: Current market value as estimated.
Valuation date Date Minerals: Date of the current value estimate.
Valuation basis Choice Minerals: What the estimated value is based on.
Own estimate
Recent sales / auction results
Dealer offer
Catalogue value
Professional appraisal
Insurance valuation
Insured value Amount Minerals: Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text Minerals: Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.
Storage location Text Minerals: Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.