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Amazonite (AI)
Amazonite is a variety of microcline, a mineral from the K-feldspar family. It is a green to bluish green ornamental and semi-precious stone.
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Amphibolite
Amphibolite is a dark-coloured, medium to fine-grained metamorphic rock composed mainly of amphibole and plagioclase. It is characteristic of moderate metamorphism.
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![©http://images-of-elements.com/, CC BY 3.0](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013757.jpg)
Antimony (Sb)
Antimony is a grey metalloid. It occurs in nature in its native state or, more commonly, as sulphides.
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Apatite (AP)
Apatite forms a group of phosphate minerals. It is usually green, but this mineral can also take on a wide variety of colours.
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![©http://minerauxquebec.blogspot.com/2017/01/asbestos-acquisition-cuivre-argent.html](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013759.jpg)
Silver (Ag)
Silver occurs in nature in its native state, disseminated or as wires and thin veneers with a generally dark-coloured altered surface. It also occurs as sulphides such as argentite or acanthite.
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![©Domaine public, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=350542](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014194.jpg)
Clays
Clays consist of a group of minerals composed of hydrated aluminum silicates characterized by a flaky texture. They are usually formed by the alteration of silicates such as feldspars. This term also refers to the mineral substance formed primarily from these minerals.
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Arsenic (As)
Arsenic occurs in its native state or, more commonly, as iron, nickel or cobalt arsenides and sulfoarsenides. Arsenic is generally associated with antimony and precious metals such as gold and silver.
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013761.jpg)
Barite (BR)
Barite, a barium sulfate, is a colourless, white or slightly tinted mineral due to the presence of iron oxides. It is characterized by high density.
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![©Par W. Oelen — http://woelen.homescience.net/science/index.html, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15356026](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013915.jpg)
Beryllium (Be)
Beryllium is a steel-grey, light and fragile alkaline earth metal. In nature, it occurs mainly as oxides or complex aluminosilicates such as beryl (emerald, aquamarine).
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![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014193.jpg)
Biotite (BO)
Biotite is a brownish iron-magnesium-potassium silicate belonging to the mica family.
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![©Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013768.jpg)
Bismuth (Bi)
Bismuth occurs in a variety of complex copper and lead sulphides. It occurs in hydrothermal veins, including in association with gold.
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014453.jpg)
Bloc
A block refers to a rock fragment >25.6 cm in diameter.
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013769.jpg)
Brucite (BC)
Brucite is a magnesium hydroxide. This soft and light mineral is commonly associated with serpentine in ultramafic rocks.
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Limestone
Limestone is a carbonate sedimentary rock. It is composed mainly of calcite (calcium carbonate) characterized by high effervescence in contact with hydrochloric acid.
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![©Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=350499](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014455.jpg)
Chert
Chert is a very fine-grained silica-rich sedimentary rock of chemical origin.
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![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013770.jpg)
Chromium (Cr)
Chromium is a fairly abundant transition metal in ultramafic magmatic rocks (dunite, serpentinite) where chromite contents are observed.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013771.jpg)
Chrysotile (Asbestos) (CS)
Chrysotile is a hydrated magnesium silicate. It is the main asbestos mineral. This fibrous, non-flammable, rot-proof and flexible mineral is resistant to most chemicals and has a high fracture stress.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©François Létourneau, www.quebecminerals.com](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013804.jpg)
Cobalt (Co)
Cobalt occurs as arsenides, sulfoarsenides, sulfides and oxides. The main cobalt minerals are smaltite and cobaltite.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1587856](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014196.jpg)
Conglomerate
Conglomerate is a detrital sedimentary rock composed of rock fragments (>2 mm) bound by a finer-grained matrix. It results from mechanical degradation of other rocks.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©PierreBedard.ca](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014197.jpg)
Hornfels
Hornfels is a metamorphic rock formed at the contact between intrusive magma and surrounding rocks.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013772.jpg)
Copper (Cu)
Copper occurs in native form or more commonly as sulphides (chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite, etc.).
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013773.jpg)
Diamond (DD)
Diamond represents the high-pressure form of carbon. It is the hardest natural material (with a maximum index of 10 on the Mohs scale) and has a very high thermal and electrical conductivity. It occurs in trace amounts in kimberlites and lamproites.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013774.jpg)
Diatomite (DO)
Diatomite is a very light, porous and friable siliceous sedimentary rock formed almost entirely of skeletons of micro-organisms called diatoms.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database - Substances non métalliques](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database - Pierres industrielles](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000015353.jpg)
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate sedimentary rock composed of at least 50% dolomite (calcium-magnesium carbonate). It is characterized by low effervescence in contact with hydrochloric acid.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013775.jpg)
Dolomite (DM)
Dolomite is a calcium-magnesium carbonate. A rock containing >50% dolomite is called dolomite.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Glencore](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013831.jpg)
Platinum Group Elements (PGEs)
Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) include elements related to platinum (Pt) including palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir), osmium (Os) and rhenium (Re). They are generally associated with magmatic copper-nickel or chromium mineralization.
Platinum (Pt) Palladium (Pd) Rhodium (Rh) Ruthenium (Ru) Iridium (Ir) Osmium (Os) Rhenium (Re)
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Peggy Greb, US department of agriculture](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013830.jpg)
Rare earth elements (REEs)
Rare earth elements are a group of metals comprising the fifteen lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. In elemental form, REEs have a metallic appearance and are fairly soft, malleable and ductile. Mineralization is associated with intrusive magmatic rocks (carbonatite, alkaline or hyperalkaline rocks), metasomatic rocks or placer deposits.
Cerium (Ce) Lanthanum (La) Neodymium (Nd) Praseodymium (Pr)Samarium (Sm) Europium Ytterbium
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Leiem — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34238569](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013776.jpg)
Tin (Sn)
Tin is a silver-grey metal. It is malleable and moderately ductile at room temperature. Tin occurs mainly as an oxide in cassiterite.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013778.jpg)
Feldspar (FD)
Feldspar consists of a family of minerals made up of aluminum, potassium, sodium and calcium silicates. It is subdivided into two main types: K-feldspar and plagioclase (sodium and calcium-rich).
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013805.jpg)
Iron (Fe)
Iron occurs in its native state in nature in pure form or in nickel-based alloys. Most of iron in the Earth’s crust is combined with oxygen to form iron oxide minerals such as hematite, magnetite and limonite.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014033.jpg)
Fluorite (FL)
Fluorite is a calcium fluoride. This mineral has a vitreous lustre, is transparent to translucent and highly variable in colour.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014213.jpg)
Gneiss
Gneiss is a granular and banded metamorphic rock containing quartz, mica, amphibole, garnet, plagioclase feldspar and, locally, K-feldspar. It is characteristic of moderate to high metamorphism.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013779.jpg)
Graphite (GP)
Graphite represents the low-temperature and low-pressure phase of carbon. It forms compact lamellar masses or irregular flakes disseminated in the rock.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013791.jpg)
Garnet (GR)
Garnet consists of a family of minerals made up of silicates of very variable composition (calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, chromium). Garnet is an important constituent of certain metamorphic rocks.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014214.jpg)
Sandstone
Sandstone is a detrital sedimentary rock composed of sand size grains (0.063-2 mm). Grains consist mostly of quartz and feldspar derived from the erosion of pre-existing rocks.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013792.jpg)
Halite (Rock salt) (HL)
Halite is used for cooking as table salt. This mineral is composed of sodium chloride. It is soft, very light, fragile and brittle.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013793.jpg)
Kaolin (KL)
Kaolin is a white, friable and refractory clay mineral composed mainly of aluminum silicates. It is commonly associated with mica flakes and quartz grains.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013794.jpg)
Kyanite (Disthène) (KY)
Kyanite is one of the typical forms of aluminum silicate found in metamorphic rocks (along with sillimanite and andalusite). It forms rods and usually has a bluish colour.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013795.jpg)
Lithium (Li)
Lithium is a soft, silver-grey metal that tarnishes and oxidizes very quickly in contact with air and water. It is the lightest solid element. It is extracted from brines or certain silicates (spodumene) present in granitic pegmatites.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Par Didier Descouens — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7493930](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013796.jpg)
Magnesite (MN)
Magnesite is composed of magnesium carbonate. It is a rare mineral in sedimentary rocks that can form by the alteration of magnesium-rich rocks or replacing calcite.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10150259](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013797.jpg)
Manganese (Mn)
Manganese is a light grey metal, hard and brittle. It occurs in various mineralized environments.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014132.jpg)
Marble (crystalline limestone)
Marble is a metamorphic rock derived from recrystallization of limestone or dolomite.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=687102](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014192.jpg)
Mica (MI)
Micas consist of a family of minerals composed mainly of aluminum, iron, magnesium and potassium silicates. They are characterized by their lustre, laminated texture giving a flaky shape, and resistance to heat.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013798.jpg)
Molybdène (Mo)
The main molybdenum mineral is molybdenite. Molybdenum is a by-product of copper mining.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014133.jpg)
Mudrock
Mudrocks are very fine-grained detrital sedimentary rocks rich in clay, commonly splitting as flakes. Mudrocks can be classified into siltstone, claystone, mudstone and shale.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013799.jpg)
Nepheline (NP)
Nepheline is an aluminum-sodium silicate. It occurs in differentiated alkaline magmatic rocks.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Glencore](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013800.jpg)
Nickel (Ni)
Nickel is a dense silvery-white, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Harder and tougher than iron, it is commonly associated with cobalt and copper in mineralized zones.
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![©Niobec](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013801.jpg)
Niobium (Nb)
Niobium is a rare, relatively soft and ductile grey transition metal. Niobium minerals occur mostly as oxides in carbonatites and granitic pegmatites.
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013802.jpg)
Ochre (OC)
Ochre is a mixture of clays coloured by a mineral pigment (iron hydroxide: hematite for red ochre, limonite for brown and goethite for yellow). Clays are amalgamated with sand grains and occur in soil as ochreous sand.
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![©PierreBedard.ca, École polytechnique de Montréal](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013803.jpg)
Olivine (OV)
Olivine is an iron-magnesium silicate. It is typical of magnesium-rich magmatic rocks (ultramafic rocks) and some metamorphic rocks. Dunite is an ultramafic rock containing >90% olivine.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013806.jpg)
Gold (Au)
Gold is a yellow, shiny, unalterable and stainless precious metal. It occurs in its native state associated with silver in gold-bearing veins. Alluvial deposits may also contain gold nuggets.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Didier Descouens — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7878667](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013807.jpg)
Phlogopite (MI)
Phlogopite is a yellow or light brown silicate belonging to the mica family. It occurs in dolomite and dolomitic limestone, as well as in some ultramafic magmatic rocks.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013809.jpg)
Lead (Pb)
Lead is a bluish grey heavy metal, soft and easy to work with. The main mineral source is galena (lead sulfide). It is mined in mineralized zones associated with zinc, silver and copper.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10139374](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013916.jpg)
Pyrophyllite (PL)
Pyrophyllite is a hydrated aluminum silicate that resembles talc.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013811.jpg)
Quartzite
Quartzite is a massive siliceous rock composed of fused quartz crystals. It results from metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. Generally light in colour, quartzite has a glass-like fracture.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013811.jpg)
Quartz (Silica) (QZ)
Quartz is composed only of silica (SiO2). It is an important mineral of granite, granitic metamorphic rocks (gneiss, quartzite) and sedimentary rocks (sandstone).
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014392.jpg)
Calcosilicate rocks
Calcosilicate rocks are slightly greyish to greenish metamorphic rocks derived from impure limestone. They are more resistant to erosion than marbles, with which they are associated, and stand out (in positive relief) compared to them.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014393.jpg)
Intrusive rocks
Intrusive rocks are magmatic rocks that result from the slow crystallization of magma at depth before it reaches the surface. This phenomenon produces rock masses composed of well-developed crystals visible to the naked eye.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014454.jpg)
Metasomatic rocks (including skarn or tactite)
Metasomatic rocks are metamorphic rocks that result from the transformation of an original rock (protolith) by hydrothermal fluids
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014450.jpg)
Volcanic rocks
Volcanic rocks are magmatic rocks that result from the rapid cooling of lava. The constituent minerals are generally not visible to the naked eye. Synonyms: volcanics, extrusive rocks or effusive rocks.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014451.jpg)
Sand
Sand is an unconsolidated sediment composed of grains (0.063-2mm in size) resulting from the erosion of pre-existing rocks.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
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![©MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014452.jpg)
Schist
Schist is a metamorphic rock characterized by a laminated texture which splits into thin plates. This rock is said to display a schistosity.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013812.jpg)
Sillimanite (SM)
Sillimanite is one of the forms of aluminum silicate typical of metamorphic rocks (along with kyanite and andalusite). This mineral is whitish, fibrous (hence its other name fibrolite) and lamellar, with a pearly lustre. Crystals indicate moderate to high regional metamorphism.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Par Fred Kruijen — http://wannenkopfe.strahlen.org/titanite24.html, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9578149](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014035.jpg)
Sphene/Titanite (SN)
Sphene (or titanite) is a calcium-titanium silicate. It occurs in sodic magmatic rocks or metamorphic rocks.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013813.jpg)
Talc (TC)
Talc is a hydroxylated magnesium silicate. It results from the alteration of magnesium silicates such as pyroxene, amphibole, olivine and similar minerals. It is also found in metamorphic rocks.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Jurii — http://images-of-elements.com/tantalum.php, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8190477](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013814.jpg)
Tantalum (Ta)
Tantalum is a very dense metal. It occurs mainly in hydrothermal veins and granitic pegmatites. The main ore is coltan (or columbotantalite), which is a combination of columbite and tantalite in variable proportions.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©W. Oelen — http://woelen.homescience.net/science/index.html, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15360151](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013815.jpg)
Thorium (Th)
Thorium is a radioactive grey metal. It occurs in small amounts in most rocks as minerals such as thorite, thorianite and, most commonly, monazite (thorium phosphate and rare earths), which can contain up to 12% thorium oxide.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Alchemist-hp (pse-mendelejew.de) — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7329436](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013816.jpg)
Titanium (Ti)
Titanium occurs in several minerals such as anatase, brookite, ilmenite, leucoxene, perovskite, rutile, sphene (titanite) and titanomagnetite. It occurs mainly in mafic magmatic rocks and placer deposits.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Debbie Oppermann](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013817.jpg)
Peat (XG)
A peatland is a wet zone, colonized by vegetation allowing the formation of earth composed of peat which is the result of the fossilization of organic matter.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![©Alchemist-hp (talk) (www.pse-mendelejew.de) - Own work, FAL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10424635](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013818.jpg)
Tungsten (W)
Tungsten is a hard metal varying in colour from steel grey to tin white. Tungsten occurs in wolframite (iron-manganese tungstate), scheelite (calcium tungstate), ferberite and hübnerite.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013819.jpg)
Uranium (U)
Uranium is a grey, hard and radioactive metal. More abundant than silver, it is found everywhere in trace amounts, including in sea water. The principal uranium mineral is called uraninite or pitchblende.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013827.jpg)
Vanadium (V)
Vanadium is a white metal, not very fusible and quite rare. It is associated with titanomagnetite in mafic rocks where it is generally mined as a by-product.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013820.jpg)
Wollastonite (WL)
Wollastonite is a calcium silicate formed in impure limestone or dolomite metamorphosed under high temperature conditions. It also occurs in skarns or in zones of contact metamorphism.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Roland.chem — Travail personnel (Texte original : selbst erstellt), Domaine public, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8006366](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013821.jpg)
Zeolite (ZL)
Zeolite refers to a family of hydrated aluminum, calcium, magnesium or alkaline element (sodium, potassium) silicates. It occurs in slightly metamorphosed volcanic rocks or in cavity fillings.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013828.jpg)
Zinc (Zn)
Zinc is a hard bluish white transition metal. Rare in its native state, the common zinc mineral is sphalerite, a zinc sulphide.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Francis Fontaine pour le MERN](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000013829.jpg)
Zirconium (Zr)
Zirconium is a hard transition metal, silvery and satin-like. The main zirconium mineral, zircon (zirconium silicate), is a constituent of granite. It is generally extracted from alluvial deposits (placers).
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Par Alchemist-hp (talk) (www.pse-mendelejew.de) — Travail personnel, FAL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10323830](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014067.jpg)
Cadmium (Cd)
Cadmium is a silvery metal with high corrosion resistance. Often associated with zinc ores.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Par Dnn87 — Travail personnel, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3415854](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014068.jpg)
Cesium (Cs)
Cesium is the most alkaline of the metals. Its chemical properties are close to those of rubidium and potassium, which belong to the same element family.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![©Par Hi-Res Images ofChemical Elements — http://images-of-elements.com/gallium.php, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28654351](http://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014070.jpg)
Gallium (Ga)
Gallium belongs to the metals category as a co-product of bauxite and zinc processing.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)
![](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000029674.jpg)
Indium (In)
Indium is co-produced by the metallurgy associated with zinc.
![©Par Warut Roonguthai — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3017081](http://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014075.jpg)
Magnesium (Mg)
Magnesium is a very light, alkaline earth metal. It is the eighth most abundant element in the universe.
![©Par Alchemist-hp (talk) (www.pse-mendelejew.de) — Travail personnel, FAL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10636841](http://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014061.jpg)
Scandium (Sc)
Scandium is a soft transition metal with a silvery white appearance. Scandium is found in a few rare minerals. It is classified with yttrium and the lanthanides as a rare earth element because of similar chemical properties.
![©Glencore](http://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/photos/01361/0000014090.jpg)
Tellurium (Te)
Tellurium is considered a metalloid of the chalcogen group, obtained as a co-product of copper, lead and nickel processing.
![View on the interactive map of SIGÉOM](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/CC.png)
![View data in the SIGÉOM database](https://gq.mines.gouv.qc.ca/documents/sigeom/img/BDC.png)