Introducing our revolutionary take on modern mineral collecting, the Mineral Angel Educational Kits! Each of the nine thematically-organized collections includes a natural wood display box fitted with a variety of twelve handpicked high quality thumbnail mineral specimens suited for each scientific theme curated from mines around the world by our experienced team. 

The sleek, informative design of these kits makes them a multipurpose tool for all ages! For K-12 and university students, these kits can be an accurate and informative tool for STEM courses. For the mineral enthusiast, these can be an excellent start or addition to a raw mineral collection complete with their neutral, sleek packaging and wealth of locality and physical property information for each specimen. If interested in placing a bulk order for a museum gift shop or educational institute, please contact us at mineralangelllc@gmail.com. 

Technical Specifications: 

• Wooden Box Dimensions: 8.25” x 7” x 2” 
• Hinged Wooden Lid with Brass Tone Swivel Lock Closure
• Plastic Specimen Box Dimensions: 3.4 cm x 3.4 cm x 3.8 cm
• Individual labels for each of the 12 specimen boxes with mineral name, origin, and chemical composition
• Printed companion guide with a detailed description of the kit and the specific theme it features. 
• 12 individual thumbnail minerals mounted with removable adhesive, which can be left in their display boxes or taken out for study or DIY purposes. 

Learn more about the entire collection: 

Kit 1: The Mohs Hardness Scale 

Developed in 1822 by German mineralogist Fredrick Mohs, the Mohs Hardness Scale is one of the best practical methods of estimating a mineral's hardness. This test compares the resistance of a mineral to a series of reference materials with a known hardness on a scale of 1-10.  This kit includes minerals at each of the 10 Mohs Scale intervals of hardness. 

This kit includes: 

• Talc from Vermont, USA
• Selenite from Morocco
• Calcite from Guangxi, China
• Iceland Spar Calcite from Guizhou, China
• Fluorite from Yunnan, China
• Golden Apatite from Durango, Mexico
• Blue Apatite from Brazil
• Orthoclase from Shandong, China
• Amethyst Quartz from Artigas, Uraguay
• Topaz from Fujian, China
• Ruby from Tulear, Madagascar
• Diamond from Marange, Zimbabwe

 

Kit 2: Seven Crystal System

During the process of mineral formation, crystals can grow into geometric shapes under certain conditions. The Seven Crystal Systems are a method of classifying crystals based on their atomic lattice or structure. The Seven Crystal Systems include: cubic, tetragonal, orthorhombic, rhombohedral, hexagonal, monoclinic, and triclinic. This mineral kit contains specimens of each formation type. 

This kit includes: 

• Celestite from Madagascar
• Epidote from Huanuco, Peru
• Gypsum from Fujian, China
• Microcline from Fujian, China
• Calcite from Hunan, China
• Wulfenite from Chihuahua, Mexico
• Vanadinite from Khenifra, Morocco
• Pyrrhotite from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia
• Fluorite from Yunnan, China
• Garnet from Mali
• Pyrite from La Rioja, Spain
• Quartz from Yunnan, China

 

Kit 3: Mineral Aggregates

An aggregate refers to a mass of mineral crystals, as determined by the shape and arrangement of the mineral’s individual units. There are three basic categories of mineral aggregates based on the size of the particles: phanero-crystalline, cryptocrystalline, and colloid. This set of specimens includes a variety of representative aggregate formations in a variety of materials. 

This kit includes: 

• Bismuthinite from Inner Mongolia, China
• Hydrozincite from Fujian, China
• Goethite from Taouz, Morocco
• Aragonite from Severo, Morocco
• Stibnite from Hunan, China
• Calcite from Inner Mongolia
• Muscovite from Sichuan, China
• Spessartine from Fujian, China
• Cyanotrichite from Guizhou, China
• Prehnite from Mali
• Native Copper from Jiangxi, China
• Native Silver from Shanxi, China

 

Kit 4: Mineral Luster

Luster is a property of minerals that relates to how an individual specimen type reflects, refracts, and absorbs light. Overall, there are two main types of luster: metallic and non-metallic. Within those two major groups are many subcategories of luster types, such as submetallic, adamantine, vitreous, and more. Luster is a key aspect of mineral classification, and this collector’s set of specimens contains examples of various mineral luster varieties in 12 unique natural mineral thumbnail specimens. 

This kit includes: 

• Serpentine Jade from Liaoning, China 
• Quartz from Brazil
• Apatite from Brazil
• Cerussite from Jerada, Morocco
• Calcite from Guangxi, China
• Quartz from Yunnan, China
• Hematite from Brazil
• Native Sulfur from Bolivia
• Malachite from Katanga, Congo 
• Orpiment from Hunan, China
• Amber from Columbia
• Pyrite from Peru

 

Kit 5: Cleavage and Fracture 

While cleavage and fracture may seem like synonyms, in the world of mineral classification they mean very different things. Minerals naturally form crystalline structures in geometrically complex interlocked atomic units. Cleavage refers to the natural line of division through planes of those units, while fracture refers to any break or chip in a mineral. Cleavages are categorized by how smoothly the mineral breaks and each variety of cleavage forms a unique visible effect on the mineral. This collectors kit includes 12 unique thumbnail mineral specimens of varying cleavage types. 

This kit includes: 

• Pyrite from Peru
• Obsidian from Madagascar
• Corundum (Ruby/Sapphire) from Madagascar
• Blue Apatite from Brazil
• Selenite from Morocco
• Lepidolite from Brazil
• Kyanite from Brazil
• Baryte from Sichuan, China
• Fluorite from Sweetwater Missouri, USA
• Calcite from Guizhou, China
• Amazonite from Brazil
• Kunzite from Brazil

 

Kit 6: Natural Elements and Organic Gemstones

Organic gemstones are a class of minerals that were created by, or existed once as themselves, living organisms. Common examples include pearls, bone, amber, coral, shells, etc. While many inorganic gemstones can be chemically replicated in a lab, organic minerals can never be perfectly replicated due to their unique natural formation qualities. This unique collectors mineral kit includes 12 various organic gemstones and minerals in tailored thumbnail specimens. 

This kit includes: 

• Graphite from Hunan, China
• Native Sulfur from Bolivia
• Mammoth Ivory from Siberian Permafrost, Russia
• Abalone Shell from New Zealand Territorial Waters
• Native Silver from Shanxi, China
• Native Copper from Jiangxi, China
• Butterscotch Amber from the Baltic Sea Shore
• Amber from Columbia
• Diamond from Zimbabwe
• Native Gold from Australia
• Sardinian Coral from Sardinia, Italy
• Pearl from Hunan, China

 

Kit 7: Metallic Minerals 

Metallic minerals are minerals that contain one or more metallic elements from the periodic table, individually or as chemical compounds. These minerals exhibit either metallic or submetallic luster, which frequently helps to identify them. Metallic minerals are also known for their opaque color and thermal conduction qualities. This kit contains 12 unique curated thumbnail specimens of metallic minerals from around the world! 

This kit includes: 

• Goethite from Morocco
• Galena from Hunan, China
• Pyrolusite from Morocco
• Nickeline from Ontario, Canada
• Wolframite from Hunan, China
• Bornite from Sonora, Mexico
• Molybdenite from Henan, China
• Cinnabar from Hunan, China
• Freibergite Bismuthinite from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia
• Cassiterite from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia
• Stibnite from Hunan, China
• Skutterudite from Morocco

 

Kit 8: The 12 Mineral Colors

A mineral's color is caused by its internal structure and chemical makeup. The color of the ions, structural defects, impurities, and inclusions can all affect how light is absorbed or reflected by the crystals and how it appears to the human eye. There are three main categories of mineral colors: idiochromatic, allochromatic, and pseudochromatic. This kit contains a full rainbow of natural mineral colors and shades across 12 individual curated thumbnail mineral specimens. 

This kit includes: 

• Vanadinite from Mexico
• Orpiment from Hunan, China
• Native Sulfur from Bolivia 
• Pyromorphite from Guangxi, China
• Azurite from Morocco
• Blue Aragonite from Yunnan, China
• Amethyst from Uraguay
• Bornite from Sonora, Mexico
• Schorl from Yunnan, China
• Hydrozincite from Fujian, China
• Galena from Sweetwater Missouri, USA 
• Hemimorphite from Durango, Morocco

 

Kit 9: The 12 Birthstones

While the exact origin for the practice of wearing a specific gemstone to coordinate with one’s birth month is a bit difficult to trace, we do know that humans have been partaking in this practice since at least the 16th century. Today, many celebrate their distinct birth month and its meanings through various gemstone collections and jewelry. This informative mineral kit contains all 12 genuine birthstones for the year in curated individual thumbnail specimens for display or gifting. 

This kit includes: 

• Garnet from Fujian, China
• Amethyst from Brazil 
• Aquamarine from Pakistan
• Diamond from Zimbabwe
• Emerald from Yunnan, China
• Pearl from Hunan, China
• Ruby from Madagascar
• Peridot from Hebei, China
• Sapphire from Madagascar
• Tourmaline from Brazil
• Topaz from Mexico 
• Turquoise from Hubei, China