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Brown
minerals
Minerals whose typical color is brown.
← All properties
187
minerals · Brown minerals
Variety
Agate
SiO₂
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 6.5–7
Almandine
Fe²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Silicate
Cubic
Mohs 7–7.5
Mineraloid
Amber
C₁₀H₁₆O (fossil resin)
Organic Mineral
Amorphous
Mohs 2–2.5
Group
Apatite
Ca₅(PO₄)₃(F,Cl,OH)
Phosphate
Hexagonal
Mohs 5
Baryte
Ba(SO₄)
Sulfate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 3–3.5
Group
Biotite
K(Mg,Fe)₃(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2.5–3
Calcite
Ca(CO₃)
Carbonate
Hexagonal
Mohs 3
Copper
Cu
Native Element
Cubic
Mohs 2.5–3
Diamond
C
Native Element
Cubic
Mohs 10
Fluorapatite
Ca₅(PO₄)₃F
Phosphate
Hexagonal
Mohs 5
Forsterite
Mg₂(SiO₄)
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6.5–7
Group
Garnet
X₃Y₂(SiO₄)₃
Silicate
Cubic
Mohs 6.5–7.5
Gypsum
Ca(SO₄)·2H₂O
Sulfate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2
Hematite
Fe₂O₃
Oxides & Hydroxide
Hexagonal
Mohs 5–6
Jadeite
NaAlSi₂O₆
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 6–7
Variety
Jasper
SiO₂
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 6.5–7
Variety
Moonstone
KAlSi₃O₈
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 6–6.5
Muscovite
KAl₂(Si₃Al)O₁₀(OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2–2.5
Mineraloid
Obsidian
SiO₂-rich volcanic glass
Silicate
Amorphous
Mohs 5–5.5
Opal
SiO₂·nH₂O
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 5.5–6.5
Featured
Quartz
SiO₂
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 7
Rhodochrosite
Mn(CO₃)
Carbonate
Hexagonal
Mohs 3.5–4
Rhodonite
CaMn₃Mn(Si₅O₁₅)
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 5.5–6.5
Variety
Smoky Quartz
SiO₂
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 7
Topaz
Al₂SiO₄F₂
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 8
Group
Tourmaline
(Na,Ca)(Mg,Fe,Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 7–7.5
Vanadinite
Pb₅(VO₄)₃Cl
Vanadate
Hexagonal
Mohs 3
Wulfenite
PbMoO₄
Molybdate
Tetragonal
Mohs 2.5–3
Zircon
Zr(SiO₄)
Silicate
Tetragonal
Mohs 7.5
Aegirine
NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 6–6.5
Group
Allanite
(Ca,Ce)₂(Al,Fe)₃Si₃O₁₂(OH)
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5.5–6
Allanite-(Ce)
CaCe(Al₂Fe²⁺)[Si₂O₇][SiO₄]O(OH)
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5.5–6
Group
Amphibole
A₀₋₁B₂C₅T₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–6.5
Anatase
TiO₂
Oxides & Hydroxide
Tetragonal
Mohs 5.5–6
Andalusite
Al₂SiO₅
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6.5–7.5
Andradite
Ca₃Fe³⁺₂(SiO₄)₃
Silicate
Cubic
Mohs 6.5–7
Annite
KFe²⁺₃(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2.5–3
Anthophyllite
Mg₂Mg₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 5.5–6
Antigorite
Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2.5–3.5
Aragonite
Ca(CO₃)
Carbonate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 3.5–4
Augite
(Ca,Mg,Fe)₂Si₂O₆
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5.5–6
Group
Axinite
Ca₂(Mn,Fe,Mg)Al₂BSi₄O₁₅(OH)
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 6.5–7
Axinite-(Fe)
Ca₄Fe²⁺₂Al₄[B₂Si₈O₃₀](OH)₂
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 6.5–7
Axinite-(Mg)
Ca₄Mg₂Al₄[B₂Si₈O₃₀](OH)₂
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 6.5–7
Axinite-(Mn)
Ca₄Mn²⁺₂Al₄[B₂Si₈O₃₀](OH)₂
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 6.5–7
Beidellite
(Na,Ca)₀.₃Al₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(OH)₂·nH₂O
Silicate
Mohs 1–2
Beudantite
PbFe³⁺₃(AsO₄)(SO₄)(OH)₆
Arsenate
Hexagonal
Mohs 4
Bornite
Cu₅FeS₄
Sulfide
Cubic
Mohs 3–3.25
Braunite
Mn²⁺Mn³⁺₆O₈(SiO₄)
Silicate
Tetragonal
Mohs 6–6.5
Brookite
TiO₂
Oxides & Hydroxide
Orthorhombic
Mohs 5.5–6
Bustamite
Mn₂Ca₂MnCa(Si₃O₉)₂
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 5.5–6.5
Carminite
PbFe³⁺₂(AsO₄)₂(OH)₂
Arsenate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 3.5
Cassiterite
SnO₂
Oxides & Hydroxide
Tetragonal
Mohs 6–7
Catapleiite
Na₂Zr(Si₃O₉)·2H₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 6
Chabazite-Ca
Ca₂[Al₄Si₈O₂₄]·13H₂O
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 4–5
Variety
Chalcedony
SiO₂
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 6.5–7
Chamosite
(Fe²⁺,Mg,Al,Fe³⁺)₆(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(OH,O)₈
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 2.5–3.5
Rock
Chert
SiO₂ (cryptocrystalline)
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 7
Chromite
Fe²⁺Cr₂O₄
Oxides & Hydroxide
Cubic
Mohs 5.5
Chrysotile
Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2.5–3.5
Coffinite
U(SiO₄)·nH₂O
Silicate
Tetragonal
Mohs 5–6
Group
Columbite
(Fe,Mn)Nb₂O₆
Oxides & Hydroxide
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6–6.5
Cordierite
Mg₂Al₄Si₅O₁₈
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 7–7.5
Corundum
Al₂O₃
Oxides & Hydroxide
Hexagonal
Mohs 9
Cryolite
Na₂NaAlF₆
Halide
Monoclinic
Mohs 2.5–3
Cummingtonite
Mg₂Mg₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–6
Danburite
CaB₂Si₂O₈
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 7–7.5
Datolite
CaB(SiO₄)(OH)
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–5.5
Descloizite
PbZn(VO₄)(OH)
Vanadate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 3.5
Diaspore
AlO(OH)
Oxides & Hydroxide
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6.5–7
Diopside
CaMgSi₂O₆
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5.5–6.5
Dolomite
CaMg(CO₃)₂
Carbonate
Hexagonal
Mohs 3.5–4
Dravite
NaMg₃Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH)
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 7.5
Dumortierite
AlAl₆BSi₃O₁₈
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 7–8.4
Enstatite
Mg₂Si₂O₆
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 5–6
Epidote
Ca₂(Al₂Fe³⁺)[Si₂O₇][SiO₄]O(OH)
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 6–7
Eucryptite
LiAlSiO₄
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 6.5
Eudialyte
Na₁₅Ca₆Fe₃Zr₃Si(Si₂₅O₇₃)(O,OH,H₂O)₃(Cl,OH)₂
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 5–6
Fayalite
Fe²⁺₂(SiO₄)
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6.5
Ferberite
Fe²⁺(WO₄)
Tungstate
Monoclinic
Mohs 4–4.5
Ferrosilite
Fe²⁺₂Si₂O₆
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6
Rock
Flint
SiO₂ (cryptocrystalline)
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 7
Fluor-buergerite
NaFe³⁺₃Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃O₃F
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 7
Fluor-liddicoatite
Ca(Li₂Al)Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃F
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 7.5
Foitite
(Fe²⁺₂Al)Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH)
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 7.5
Friedelite
Mn²⁺₈Si₆O₁₅(OH)₁₀
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 4–5
Group
Gadolinite
(Y,Ce)₂FeBe₂Si₂O₁₀
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 6.5–7
Gadolinite-(Y)
Y₂Fe²⁺Be₂O₂(SiO₄)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 6.5–7
Gedrite
Mg₂(Mg₃Al₂)(Si₆Al₂)O₂₂(OH)₂
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 5.5–6
Goethite
FeO(OH)
Oxides & Hydroxide
Orthorhombic
Mohs 5–5.5
Grossular
Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Silicate
Cubic
Mohs 6.5–7
Grunerite
Fe²⁺₂Fe²⁺₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–6
Halloysite-7Å
Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2–2.5
Harmotome
Ba₂(Si₁₂Al₄)O₃₂·12H₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 4.5
Hastingsite
NaCa₂(Fe²⁺₄Fe³⁺)(Si₆Al₂)O₂₂(OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–6
Hausmannite
Mn²⁺Mn³⁺₂O₄
Oxides & Hydroxide
Tetragonal
Mohs 5.5
Hedenbergite
CaFe²⁺Si₂O₆
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5.5–6.5
Hemimorphite
Zn₄(Si₂O₇)(OH)₂·H₂O
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 4.5–5
Herderite
CaBe(PO₄)F
Phosphate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–5.5
Variety
Hessonite
Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Silicate
Cubic
Mohs 6.5–7
Hübnerite
Mn²⁺(WO₄)
Tungstate
Monoclinic
Mohs 4–4.5
Ilvaite
CaFe³⁺Fe²⁺₂O(Si₂O₇)(OH)
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5.5–6
Jarosite
KFe³⁺₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
Sulfate
Hexagonal
Mohs 2.5–3.5
Mineraloid
Jet
C — fossilized wood
Organic Mineral
Amorphous
Mohs 2.5–4
Kaersutite
NaCa₂(Mg₃AlTi⁴⁺)(Si₆Al₂)O₂₂O₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–6
Kaolinite
Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 2–2.5
Kentrolite
Pb₂Mn³⁺₂O₂(Si₂O₇)
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6
Kornerupine
(Mg,Fe²⁺,Al, )₁₀(Si,Al,B)₅O₂₁(OH,F)₂
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6.5–7
Laumontite
CaAl₂Si₄O₁₂·4H₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 3.5–4
Lawsonite
CaAl₂(Si₂O₇)(OH)₂·H₂O
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 7–7.5
Lepidocrocite
Fe³⁺O(OH)
Oxides & Hydroxide
Orthorhombic
Mohs 5
Limonite
FeO(OH)·nH₂O
Oxides & Hydroxide
Amorphous
Mohs 4–5.5
Lithiophilite
LiMn²⁺(PO₄)
Phosphate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 4–5
Magnesite
Mg(CO₃)
Carbonate
Hexagonal
Mohs 3.5–4.5
Group
Mica
XY₂₋₃Z₄O₁₀(OH,F)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2–3
Microcline
K(AlSi₃O₈)
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 6–6.5
Mimetite
Pb₅(AsO₄)₃Cl
Arsenate
Hexagonal
Mohs 3.5–4
Group
Monazite
(Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO₄
Phosphate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–5.5
Monazite-(Ce)
Ce(PO₄)
Phosphate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–5.5
Montmorillonite
(Na,Ca)₀.₃(Al,Mg)₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂·nH₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 1–2
Mottramite
PbCu(VO₄)(OH)
Vanadate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 3–3.5
Nitratine
Na(NO₃)
Nitrate
Hexagonal
Mohs 1.5–2
Nontronite
Na₀.₃Fe³⁺₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(OH)₂·nH₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 1.5–2
Nosean
Na₈(Si₆Al₆)O₂₄(SO₄)·H₂O
Silicate
Cubic
Mohs 5.5
Olivenite
Cu₂(AsO₄)(OH)
Arsenate
Monoclinic
Mohs 3
Osumilite
KFe₂(Al₅Si₁₀)O₃₀
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 5.5–6
Painite
CaZrAl₉O₁₅(BO₃)
Borate
Hexagonal
Mohs 8
Palygorskite
(Mg,Al)₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)·4H₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2
Pargasite
NaCa₂(Mg₄Al)(Si₆Al₂)O₂₂(OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–6
Pentlandite
(Ni,Fe)₉S₈
Sulfide
Cubic
Mohs 3.5–4
Perovskite
CaTiO₃
Oxides & Hydroxide
Orthorhombic
Mohs 5.5
Pharmacosiderite
KFe³⁺₄(AsO₄)₃(OH)₄·6-7H₂O
Arsenate
Cubic
Mohs 2.5
Phenakite
Be₂(SiO₄)
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 7.5–8
Phlogopite
KMg₃(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2–2.5
Piemontite
Ca₂(Al₂Mn³⁺)[Si₂O₇][SiO₄]O(OH)
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 6
Pigeonite
(Mg,Fe,Ca)₂Si₂O₆
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 6
Polyhalite
K₂Ca₂Mg(SO₄)₄·2H₂O
Sulfate
Triclinic
Mohs 3.5
Powellite
Ca(MoO₄)
Molybdate
Tetragonal
Mohs 3.5–4
Pumpellyite-(Mg)
Ca₂MgAl₂(Si₂O₇)(SiO₄)(OH)₂·H₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 6
Group
Pyrochlore Supergroup
(Na,Ca)₂Nb₂O₆(OH,F)
Oxides & Hydroxide
Cubic
Mohs 5–5.5
Pyrope
Mg₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Silicate
Cubic
Mohs 7–7.5
Pyrophyllite
Al₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 1–1.5
Group
Pyroxene
XY(Si,Al)₂O₆
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–7
Pyroxmangite
Mn²⁺SiO₃
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 5.5–6
Pyrrhotite
Fe₇S₈
Sulfide
Monoclinic
Mohs 3.5–4.5
Richterite
Na(NaCa)Mg₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–6
Rutile
TiO₂
Oxides & Hydroxide
Tetragonal
Mohs 6–6.5
Saponite
(Ca,Na)₀.₃(Mg,Fe)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(OH)₂·4H₂O
Silicate
Mohs 1–2
Variety
Sard
SiO₂
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 7
Variety
Sardonyx
SiO₂
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 7
Scheelite
Ca(WO₄)
Tungstate
Tetragonal
Mohs 4.5–5
Scorodite
Fe³⁺(AsO₄)·2H₂O
Arsenate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 3.5–4
Siderite
Fe(CO₃)
Carbonate
Hexagonal
Mohs 3.5–4.5
Sillimanite
Al₂SiO₅
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6.5–7.5
Sinhalite
MgAl(BO₄)
Borate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6.5–7
Smithsonite
Zn(CO₃)
Carbonate
Hexagonal
Mohs 4–4.5
Spessartine
Mn²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Silicate
Cubic
Mohs 7–7.5
Sphalerite
ZnS
Sulfide
Cubic
Mohs 3.5–4
Spinel
MgAl₂O₄
Oxides & Hydroxide
Cubic
Mohs 7.5–8
Staurolite
Fe²⁺₂Al₉Si₄O₂₃(OH)
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 7–7.5
Group
Stilbite
NaCa₄(Al₉Si₂₇)O₇₂·nH₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 3.5–4
Stilbite-Ca
NaCa₄(Si₂₇Al₉)O₇₂·28H₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 3.5–4
Stilbite-Na
Na₉(Si₂₇Al₉)O₇₂·28H₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 3.5–4
Stolzite
Pb(WO₄)
Tungstate
Tetragonal
Mohs 2.5–3
Sugilite
KNa₂Fe³⁺₂(Li₃Si₁₂)O₃₀
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 6–6.5
Variety
Sunstone
(Ca,Na)(Al,Si)₄O₈
Silicate
Triclinic
Mohs 6–6.5
Group
Tantalite
(Fe,Mn)Ta₂O₆
Oxides & Hydroxide
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6–6.5
Tephroite
Mn²⁺₂(SiO₄)
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6
Thomsonite-Ca
NaCa₂(Al₅Si₅)O₂₀·6H₂O
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 5–5.5
Thorite
Th(SiO₄)
Silicate
Tetragonal
Mohs 4.5–5
Thénardite
Na₂(SO₄)
Sulfate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 2.5–3
Variety
Tiger's Eye
SiO₂
Silicate
Trigonal
Mohs 7
Titanite
CaTi(SiO₄)O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 5–5.5
Triphylite
LiFe²⁺(PO₄)
Phosphate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 4–5
Uraninite
UO₂
Oxides & Hydroxide
Cubic
Mohs 5–6
Uvite
CaMg₃(Al₅Mg)(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃(OH)
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 7.5
Vauquelinite
CuPb₂(CrO₄)(PO₄)(OH)
Phosphate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2.5–3
Vermiculite
Mg₀.₇(Mg,Fe,Al)₆(Si,Al)₈O₂₀(OH)₄·8H₂O
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 1.5
Vesuvianite
(Ca,Na)₁₉(Al,Mg,Fe)₁₃(SiO₄)₁₀(Si₂O₇)₄(OH,F,O)₁₀
Silicate
Tetragonal
Mohs 6.5
Wavellite
Al₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₃·5H₂O
Phosphate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 3.5–4
Willemite
Zn₂SiO₄
Silicate
Hexagonal
Mohs 5.5
Witherite
Ba(CO₃)
Carbonate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 3–3.5
Group
Wolframite
(Fe,Mn)WO₄
Tungstate
Monoclinic
Mohs 4–4.5
Group
Xenotime
YPO₄
Phosphate
Tetragonal
Mohs 4–5
Xenotime-(Y)
Y(PO₄)
Phosphate
Tetragonal
Mohs 4–5
Group
Zinnwaldite
KLiFe²⁺Al(AlSi₃)O₁₀(F,OH)₂
Silicate
Monoclinic
Mohs 2.5–3
Zoisite
Ca₂Al₃[Si₂O₇][SiO₄]O(OH)
Silicate
Orthorhombic
Mohs 6–7