Pre-lab Questions

Question 1

List 3 metamorphic minerals

Answer 1

Muscovite, Biotite, Cordierite, Garnet, Zircon, Andalusite, Kyanite

Question 2

What country is the world’s major source of nickel?

Answer 2

Indonesia

Question 3

What is the name of the major nickel district in Ontario? And the one in Labrador (Newfoundland)?

Answer 3

Sudbury and Voisies Bay

Question 4

What environmental effect results from the alteration of pyrite by water?

Answer 4

Pyrite oxidizes and produces sulphuric acid, which can contaminate large bodies of water and streams.

Question 5

What is emery?

Answer 5

A dark granular rock made up of corundum, magnetite, and spinels. Usually used as an abrasive powder.

Question 6

What is the general formula of spinel?

Answer 6

MgAl2O4

Question 7

What is an inverse spinel?

Answer 7

The tetrahedral/octahedral sites are split differently than a regular spinel

Question 8

Is magnetite an inverse spinel? Explain.

Answer 8

Yes, because the structure is the same as it occupies the octahedral and tetrahedral sites like an inverse spinel

Question 9

Which carbonates readily react to cold HCl?

Answer 9

Calcite, Malachite, Azurite

Question 10

Which carbonates only react when the HCl is heated or mineral is powdered?

Answer 10

Dolomite, Siderite, Chrosite

Question 11

What is the main industrial use of calcite?

Answer 11

Construction materials

Question 12

What mineral are pearls composed of?

Answer 12

Aragonite (CaCO3)

Question 13

What is barite used for?

Answer 13

X-Rays / x-ray shielding

Question 14

What is most tungsten used for?

Answer 14

Heavy metals and steel in tools

Question 15

Common colour of azurite

Answer 15

Blue

Question 16

Common colour of dolomite

Answer 16

Pale white/pink

Question 17

Common colour of malachite

Answer 17

Green

Question 18

Common colour of rhodochrosite

Answer 18

Pink

Question 19

Common colour of siderite

Answer 19

Brown

Question 20

What is lapis lazuli?

Answer 20

A deep blue metamorphic rock which is also a semi-precious gem stone. Includes calcite and pyrite

Question 21

What is the formation from olivine to serpentine called?

Answer 21

Iddingsite

Question 22

What is exosolution?

Answer 22

A process where a solid solution separates into two different minerals without the addition or loss of any materials.

Question 23

What is a miscibility gap?

Answer 23

A gap where there is no distinct solid solution between the two end-members

Question 24

What is zoning in a mineral?

Answer 24

A spatial variation in the composition of a single mineral grain

Question 25

What is Bird’s Eye Extinction?

Answer 25

A type of extinction exhibited by micas under a microscope. Gives a pebbly appearance as it goes into extinction.

Question 26

What is coltan?

Answer 26

A dull black metallic ore made up of columbite-tantalite

Question 27

Minerals found in placer deposits (8)

Answer 27

Gold, Magnetite, Ilmenite, Copper, Chromite, Rutile, Zircon, Cassiterite (all have high SG)