Types of Crystals: The Complete Guide
There are thousands of minerals, but only a few hundred are commonly sold as crystals — and most of those belong to a handful of families. Here's how the main types of crystals are organized: by mineral family, by color, and by how people use them.
Not sure which one you have? Identify it from a photo
Crystals by mineral family
The quartz family
Quartz (silicon dioxide) is the most common crystal-forming mineral on Earth, so most of the best-known “crystals” are quartz varieties — either colored by trace elements or built from microscopic quartz fibers (chalcedony).
The feldspar group
Feldspars are the most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust. Their crystal varieties are prized for optical effects — labradorite’s blue flash, amazonite’s blue-green color.
The beryl group
Beryl is a beryllium silicate whose gem varieties are told apart mainly by color — blue aquamarine, green emerald, pink morganite.
Crystals by color
Color is the first thing most people notice. Browse by the most common crystal colors:
Crystals by purpose
Many people choose crystals by the intention they're traditionally linked with:
Crystal shapes & formations
“Type” can also mean the form a crystal takes. The most common you'll see for sale:
- Raw / rough: natural, uncut specimens straight from the ground.
- Tumbled: small stones polished smooth in a rotating barrel.
- Points & towers: crystals cut or grown to a single terminated tip.
- Clusters & geodes: many crystals grown together, often in a rock cavity.
Common types of crystals (A–Z)
Every crystal, gem and mineral in our field guide — each links to a full page on how to identify it, its properties and look-alikes:
- Agate
- Alexandrite
- Amazonite
- Amethyst
- Ametrine
- Ammolite
- Andalusite
- Angelite
- Apatite
- Apophyllite
- Aquamarine
- Aragonite
- Aventurine
- Azurite
- Barite
- Bloodstone
- Bornite
- Calcite
- Carnelian
- Cavansite
- Celestite
- Chalcedony
- Chalcopyrite
- Charoite
- Chrysoberyl
- Chrysocolla
- Chrysoprase
- Cinnabar
- Citrine
- Clear Quartz
- Danburite
- Dioptase
- Dolomite
- Dumortierite
- Epidote
- Fluorite
- Garnet
- Hematite
- Hemimorphite
- Howlite
- Iolite
- Jade
- Jasper
- Kunzite
- Kyanite
- Labradorite
- Lapis Lazuli
- Larimar
- Larvikite
- Lepidolite
- Magnesite
- Malachite
- Moldavite
- Molybdenite
- Moonstone
- Morganite
- Nuummite
- Opal
- Peridot
- Prasiolite
- Prehnite
- Pyrite
- Quartz
- Rhodochrosite
- Rhodonite
- Rose Quartz
- Scapolite
- Scolecite
- Selenite
- Septarian
- Seraphinite
- Serpentine
- Shungite
- Smithsonite
- Smoky Quartz
- Sodalite
- Sphalerite
- Stibnite
- Stilbite
- Sunstone
- Tektite
- Tiger's Eye
- Titanite
- Topaz
- Tourmaline
- Turquoise
- Unakite
- Vanadinite
- Variscite
- Vesuvianite
- Vivianite
- Wulfenite
Looking for rocks or fossils instead? See the full field guide
Frequently asked questions
How many types of crystals are there?
There are over 5,000 known minerals, but only a few hundred are commonly cut, tumbled or sold as crystals. The most popular are a small set of quartz varieties, feldspars and a handful of distinctive minerals like fluorite, selenite and malachite.
What are the most common types of crystals?
By far the most common are quartz-family crystals: clear quartz, amethyst, rose quartz, citrine, smoky quartz, agate and carnelian. They're abundant, durable and come in every color, which is why they dominate crystal shops.
How are crystals classified?
Geologists classify minerals by chemistry and crystal structure (silicates, carbonates, oxides and so on). Crystal sellers more often group them by color, by intended use, or by family — which is how this guide is organized.
How do I find out what type of crystal I have?
Start with color and crystal shape, then confirm with simple tests like hardness and streak. Our photo identifier suggests the most likely type with a confidence score, and our identification guides walk you through the tests.