JadeWyoming State State Mineral & Gem News Society, Inc. Award-Winning WSMGS Website: wsmgs.org Volume 2020, Issue # 2 The Color of Minerals By Stan Strike RMFMS WY State Director When I look at a mineral, the first thing I usually notice is its color. But why are some minerals always the same color — such as gold and azurite — while other minerals can be different colors, such as quartz and fluorite? The answer to this question requires a brief review of why we see color, and why rock hounds should not rely solely on color to identify minerals. Why We See Color WSMGS OFFICERS White light, such as sunlight, contains all the primary colors of the visible President: Jim Gray spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (often shortened
[email protected] to the acronym ROYGBIV, or ROY G. BIV). The colors making up visible light each have specific wavelengths of energy, Vice President: Linda Richendifer
[email protected] but combined we see visible light, but when separated, we may see a rainbow: ROYGBIV. Secretary: Leane Gray Red has the longest wavelength, with the least energy, and violet has the
[email protected] shortest wavelength, with more energy. When light passes through water droplets, it separates according to how much energy each color has. The Treasurer: Stan Strike wavelengths of color having the least energy are bent, or refracted, the most.
[email protected] Violet, having the shortest wavelengths, is refracted (bent) the least. There- Historian: Roger McMannis fore, when you see a rainbow, red is always on the top and violet on the un-
[email protected] derside.