Quiz 1: mineral identification

Question 1

Name the 12 common minerals in igneous rocks

Answer 1

Quartz, plagioclase, orthoclase, Kaolinite, olivine, calcite, Muscovite, Galena, biotite, amphibole, iron oxide, pyrite

Question 2

Describe Plagioclase

Answer 2

Non metallic, vitreous, cleavage, grey white colour streak

Question 3

Describe quartz

Answer 3

Non metallic, glassy, no cleavage, poorly formed (anhedral)

Question 4

Describe orthoclase

Answer 4

Non metallic, vitreous, cleavage, pink colour streak

Question 5

Descibe Calcite

Answer 5

Non metallic, glassy, rhombohedral cleavage, yellow colour streak

Question 6

Describe olivine

Answer 6

Non metallic, glassy, cleavage, green colour streak

Question 7

Describe kaolinite

Answer 7

Non metallic, earthy and dull

Question 8

Describe biotite

Answer 8

Metallic, sub metallic, basal cleavage, black colour, hardness 2.5

Question 9

Describe amphibole

Answer 9

Metallic, sub metallic, prismatic cleavage, black colour, hardness 5

Question 10

Describe pyrite

Answer 10

Fool’s gold, Metallic, sub metallic, no cleavage, gold colour streak

Question 11

Describe Iron oxide

Answer 11

Metallic, sub metallic, no cleavage, grey colour streak

Question 12

Describe muscovite

Answer 12

Metallic, metallic, basal cleavage, light in colour

Question 13

Describe Galena

Answer 13

Metallic, metallic, cubic cleavage, black colour