Wulfenite forms in hydrothermal lead deposits and is the official state mineral of Arizona. Credit: Dave Eicher

Minerals are no ordinary rocks: They are compounds that have an orderly, crystal structure. Collectors of minerals and gems prize them not only for their aesthetic beauty and value, but also for their scientific beauty. And, as Dave explains, because chemistry is uniform throughout the universe, the same minerals we find on Earth may also exist on countless other planets throughout the universe. So the next time you hold a striking mineral, just think: You’re holding something that’s identical to a piece of another world.

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