Archaeology Hub
Minerals & Identification
Learn the mineral clues archaeologists use to identify stone materials, trace sources, and interpret how objects were made, used, and moved through time.
What this hub covers
Archaeology often starts with a simple question: what is this stone? Mineral identification turns surface observations (color, grain, luster) into material names (quartz, calcite, feldspar) and then into archaeological meaning—choices, trade, technology, and wear.
Use this hub to navigate short, focused pages on mineral properties, common lookalikes, and field-to-lab workflows. For step-by-step procedures, see Identification Methods and Tools.
Quick links
Subpages in this hub
These shorter pages are placeholders with brief descriptions. They’re designed to be expanded into practical guides with photos, examples, and cross-links to methods and tools.
Mineral properties (field basics)
Hardness, streak, luster, cleavage, fracture, and specific gravity—what they mean and how archaeologists use them on stone artifacts and building stone.
Common lookalikes
Quartz vs. calcite, chert vs. quartzite, basalt vs. dark chert—fast checks that reduce misidentification in the field.
Weathering & patina
How surface alteration changes color and texture—and how to read through it when identifying stone type and use-wear.
Thin sections & petrography
What a thin section reveals (mineral ID, texture, cement) and when petrography is the right choice for sourcing and classification.
Geochemical fingerprinting
How XRF, ICP-MS, and isotopes support provenance studies—linking artifacts to quarries, outcrops, and exchange networks.
Recording standards
Field notes, photos, scales, and controlled vocabularies—so identifications remain comparable across teams and projects.
Next steps
Want the workflow? Start with Identification Methods for the sequence archaeologists use from first look to lab confirmation.
Need the gear? See Tools for field kits, hand lenses, hardness picks, and documentation essentials.