Mineral details will populate this area
Welcome to 3DVOL - Minerals.
This website contains a three-dimensional virtual object library of the most important rock-forming minerals making up planet Earth. You will find information on:
Which are the most common minerals on Earth?
What are their most important physical and chemical properties?
Where in the Earth and under which physical conditions do they form?
How can they be identified in hand specimen?
A mineral is typically defined as an inorganic solid with a particular chemical composition and a characteristic, periodic atomic structure. This characteristic atomic make-up is often reflected in the macroscopic crystalline structure of a mineral. The 3D models presented on this website will help you to visualise, study, and memorise these beautiful and often complex crystal structures as well as other diagnostic features of minerals.
The website contains three sections. Section 1 gives you a bit of a theoretical introduction into where, how, and why minerals are formed in the Earth. Section 2 is a practice section that contains the 3D models of the featured minerals and information on their physical properties, diagnostic features, and geological significance. Section 3 provides a series of self-tests where you can check on your personal learning progress.
We hope that you enjoy using 3DVOL.
- The 3DVOL team