OXIDES

The oxide minerals all contain one or more oxide anions (O^-2).  The oxide minerals include species that are hydroxy-oxides.  The hydroxide minerals (those with one or more OH^-) are usually considered together with the oxides.  Many sulfide minerals are not stable in Earth-surface conditions.  In the presence of oxygen and moisture, sulfide minerals tend to tarnish or alter to oxides and hydroxy-oxides.  All except the most inert elements (such as the platinum-group elements and gold and noble gases) readily form oxides.  Gold oxide forms only under special conditions.

Hematite (Fe₂O₃)

Magnetite (Fe₃O₄)

Goethite (FeO·OH)

Limonite (FeO·OH·nH₂O)

Turgite (2Fe₂O₃·H₂O)

Corundum (Al₂O₃) (corundum, sapphire, ruby)

Gahnite (ZnAl₂O₄)

Cuprite (Cu₂O)

Tenorite (CuO)

Rutile (TiO₂)

Franklinite ((Zn,Fe,Mn)(Fe,Mn)₂O₄)

Zincite (ZnO)

Pyrolusite (MnO₂)

Romanechite (BaMn⁺²Mn⁺⁴₈O₁₆(OH)₄)

Ferrocolumbite (FeNb₂O₆)

Minium (Pb₃O₄)

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