Lab Midterm

Question 1

Kaolinite

Answer 1

1, white, white powdery clay

Question 2

Talc

Answer 2

1, variable

Question 3

Graphite

Answer 3

1, silver/gray/ or black, Turns fingers black

Question 4

Hematite

Answer 4

1.5, red

Question 5

Bauxite

Answer 5

1-5, red-brown/white/ or gray, masses of rounded nodules or balls

Question 6

Gypsum

Answer 6

2, white or clear, softer than fingernail

Question 7

Chlorite

Answer 7

2-2.5, green/greenish-black, resembles muscovite or biotite but green instead of black or silver

Question 8

Sulfur

Answer 8

2.5, yellow, “match” smell

Question 9

Biotite

Answer 9

2-3, black/gold, makes thin sheets

Question 10

Muscovite

Answer 10

2-3, light/usually silvery, makes thin sheets

Question 11

Halite

Answer 11

2.5, clear/white, makes cubes

Question 12

Galena

Answer 12

2.5, silver/gray, heavy and will write on paper

Question 13

Copper

Answer 13

3, brown/green, heavy, penny-like

Question 14

Calcite

Answer 14

3, often clear or white, fizzes in acid

Question 15

Dolomite

Answer 15

3-4, often gray or brown, fizzes when powdered

Question 16

Malachite

Answer 16

3-4, green, weak fizz in acid

Question 17

Sphalerite

Answer 17

3-4, yellow/green/red-brown/ or black, Conchoidal fracture, brittle

Question 18

Serpentine

Answer 18

3-4.5, green, “snakeskin”, smooth or silky feel

Question 19

Limonite

Answer 19

3-5.5, brown-yellow, may have flat surfaces, and may be in a cube shape

Question 20

Azurite

Answer 20

3.5-4, blue, fizzes in acts, powdery appearance

Question 21

Fluorite

Answer 21

4, purple/green/yellow/ or clear, often purple, triangular faces

Question 22

Apatite

Answer 22

5, green or brown, sometimes makes 6-sided crystals

Question 23

Pyrite

Answer 23

5-6, gold, fool’s gold

Question 24

Actinolite

Answer 24

5-6, green, long prismatic crystals

Question 25

Amphibole

Answer 25

5-7, black, shiny, jet-black

Question 26

Pyroxene

Answer 26

5-7, dark green, dull

Question 27

Olivine

Answer 27

5-7, green or brown, mass of small grains

Question 28

Kyanite

Answer 28

5-7, sky blue, bladed crystals,

Question 29

Hematite

Answer 29

6, silver or red

Question 30

Magnetite

Answer 30

6, black, magnetic

Question 31

Potassium-Feldspar (K-spar)

Answer 31

6, usually pink or cream, squiggly pink or white lines running through it

Question 32

Plagioclase-Feldspar (Plag)

Answer 32

6, usually white/dark/ or cream, has striations on one cleavage face

Question 33

Epidote

Answer 33

6-7, green, pistachio color green

Question 34

Garnet

Answer 34

6-7.5, usually dark red but may be yellow or green, may have 12-sided crystals

Question 35

Quartz

Answer 35

7, any color, 6-sided crystals

Question 36

Beryl

Answer 36

7.5-8, usually greenish, 6-sided crystals, may have conchoidal fracture

Question 37

Corundum

Answer 37

9, often brown or gray, 6-sided crystals