Stronianite from Ohio, USA.
A mineral is a naturally-occurring, solid, inorganic, crystalline substance having a fairly definite chemical composition and having fairly definite physical properties. At its simplest, a mineral is a naturally-occurring solid chemical. Currently, there are over 6000 named and described minerals - about 200 of them are common and about 20 of them are very common. Mineral classification is based on anion chemistry. Major categories of minerals are: elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, and silicates.
The carbonate minerals all contain one or more carbonate (CO3-2) anions.
Strontianite is an strontium carbonate mineral, SrCO3. It has a nonmetallic luster, is usually whitish-grayish, has a white streak, and is 3.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale
Locality: Stoneco Incorporated Maumee Quarry, town of Maumee, Lucas County, northwestern Ohio, USA
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Photo gallery of strontianite:
www.mindat.org/gallery.php?min= 3805
