Minerals are everywhere

We have strived to illustrate some minerals typical of every province. The minerals specimens all come from museums and they are the finest specimens you can get. But you can get inexpensive samples of most of the minerals we have illustrated.

Common minerals

Even though there are about 4000 different mineral species, most of them are rare or unusual. In fact, several are found in only a few places on Earth. The varieties of minerals we see depend on the chemical elements available to form them. In the Earth's crust, the most abundant elements are as follows:

Therefore it is not surprising that the most common minerals - quartz, feldspar, and mica – are made up of these elements. Those three minerals together account for 90% of the minerals of the Earth's crust.

Ore minerals

Ore minerals are the minerals that we mine for the metals or substances we use in our everyday lives. They provide metals for household appliances, and cars. For examples: quartz is used in televisions and radios, and gypsum is used to make plasterboard and paint. Data on mineral industry

Rare exotic minerals

Mineral emblems

Several provinces and territories have chosen a mineral or gem emblem to represent their province. We have chosen to highlight these with the following symbol Some provinces, Nova Scotia for example, have a mineral emblem as well as a gem emblem.

Mineral cards and poster

The mineral photographs illustrated in this poster are also available to be printed as mineral cards. You can print the mineral properties on the back. The mineral cards can also be used in activities where students need to match the card with the mineral specimen.

The Minerals of Canada poster can be used to explain the properties marked with an *

Tips to order minerals for your classroom

Nothing will ever replace the hands-on experience of handling real minerals; we encourage you to get a collection for your classroom. Here are two reliable suppliers that will allow you to pick and choose the samples you would like. Get at least 1-inch specimen; it is better to have less specimens but larger ones.

Here is a list of 30 minerals that will allow you to plan several hands-on activities:

Many of these are illustrated on the poster.

If you know a geologist or if there is a government office nearby, it is well worth asking for a few rock specimens to illustrate the three main categories of rocks: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.

Web sites with fun things on minerals

Collaborators on this project

Thanks to all who have collaborated on this project

The following members of the Canadian Geoscience Education Network.

Who we are

The Mineralogical Association of Canada is a charitable organization devoted to promoting and advancing the science of mineralogy. We publish "The Canadian Mineralogist", a scientific journal to publish the latest advances in the field.

Lesson plans for Hands-on activities