Mineral Key

The ability to identify geological minerals is an important skill that geology students, professional geologists, and others interested in knowing more about different minerals need to acquire. This key to Minerals App provides you with a step-by-step identification guide that also provides a learning tool as you identify different major classes of minerals.

Based on the Lucid matrix key system, widely used for identifying animal and plant species, is now available as an app providing a tool for identifying minerals on site. Initially developed for geology students, the app provides a structured process for describing the features of an unknown mineral. It incorporates built-in advice features, such as what feature to look at next, and what differences exist between remaining minerals that have met previous feature/state selections.

As well as the identification key, the app also includes the following educational material:
• details regarding the crystal structure and chemical composition of minerals,
• the geological environments or habitats where specific minerals are found,
• classes of minerals based on their chemical composition, specifically the anion present,
• best practice guidelines for using the Lucid matrix key to help identify a mineral.

It is our enthusiasm for Earth Science and recognition that the majority of current students do not learn in the same way their teachers did that led us to develop the material for this identification key. Our goal has been to use the power of interactive software to show how geologists and mineralogists identify and classify minerals. The program will allow students and enthusiastic collectors to identify more than ninety minerals with a simple to use multi-access key based on hand specimen properties. In addition, a virtual museum of photographic images accompanies extensive background text on the characteristics and origin of minerals. The unique 'learn by doing' format ensures that even those without prior training in Earth Science can develop a solid skills and knowledge base. The program will be particularly useful for students in high school and introductory level university and college geology courses, as well as professionals and enthusiastic amateurs without an advanced Earth Science background who need to identify minerals in their daily work.

It is our hope that this identification k