Rock & Mineral Identification

Question 1

light gray, glass froth with many, many holes from gas bubbles
very light bc of all the holes

Reference: Rock Box #8

Answer 1

pumice
igneous rock

Question 2

black, sharp edges, vitreous (like glass) texture
conchodial (fracture with smooth, curved surfaces that resemble the interior of a seashell)
used in scapels, when diamond is too expensive

Reference: Rock Box #9

Answer 2

obsidian
igneous rock
extrusive

Question 3

over 50% vesicles (holes from gas bubbles), looks like cinders
irregularly porous with rough surfaces and sharp edges
often red brown

Reference: Rock Box #10

Answer 3

scoria
igneous rock

Question 4

looks like “regular rock”
black, brown, light to dark grey
high resistance against erosion/weathering, very fine grained rock
crushed and used as crushed stone, concrete aggregate and railroad ballast

Reference: Rock Box #11

Answer 4

basalt
igneous rock

Question 5

bluish - grey, pink, yellow
rough to touch, high silica content, one of the oldest rocks
used as interior floor tiles in homes/buildings, exterior office buildings and roof tiles

Reference: Rock Box #12

Answer 5

andesite
igneous rock

Question 6

visible crystals of pink feldspar, white or grey quartz, and black mica
used for kitchen countertops and as a decorative building material
not fire-safe because it can crack in high heat

Reference: Rock Box #13

Answer 6

granite
igneous rock

Question 7

grey, white, light black
banded, large and coarse grained
colorless streak
used as arrowheads, dimension stone (masonry), building houses or walls, construction aggregate, cutting tool, knives

Reference: Rock Box #14

Answer 7

rhyolite
igneous rock

Question 8

mixed rocks and sediment
round rocks in a finer sediment matrix

Reference: Rock Box #23

Answer 8

conglomerate
sedimentary rock

Question 9

coarse to very fine grains, beige to grey color, feels like sandpaper
made of sand
used for flagstoen to line your walkway or patio, important building stone

Reference: Rock Box #24

Answer 9

sandstone
sedimentary rock

Question 10

dull, reddish-brown, very fine grains (smooth), breaks easily
if dipped in water, leaves muddy streak
forms as deposits in still water
made of grains of clay
raw material for brick manufacturing

Reference: Rock Box #26

Answer 10

shale
sedimentary rock

Question 11

whitish-grey with a chalky texture
mostly calcite
used in the steel making process and is used in the production of glass
applications include paper production, sugar refining, acid lake treatment and flue gas desulphurisation
supplied to feed mills and chicken farmers

Reference: Rock Box #29

Answer 11

limestone
sedimentary rock

Question 12

mixed rocks and sediment
sharp pieces in finer sediment matrix

Reference: Rock Box #30

Answer 12

breccia (pronounced BRECH-i-a)
sedimentary rock

Question 13

dark grey/red to black, harder than shale, distinct layers visible
original rock is shale
made of clay minerals
used in flooring and roofing materials, chalkboards

Reference: Rock Box #16

Answer 13

slate
metamorphic rock

Question 14

light grey or white, medium grained, very hard
originally sandstone
raw material for the glass and ceramics industries

Reference: Rock Box #17

Answer 14

quartzite
metamorphic rocks

Question 15

banded with alternating layers of dark and light minerals
made of quartz, feldspar, mica
used in construction, aggregrate and for ornamental purposes

Reference: Rock Box #18

Answer 15

gneiss
metamorphic

Question 16

foliated (layering in thin sheets)
mixed dark and light color
wrinkled foliation, often has large crystals

Reference: Rock Box #20

Answer 16

garnet schist
metamorphic

Question 17

very pure, recrystallized calcite or dolomite (fizzing with acid)
originally limestone or dolostone
used for construction, countertops, and carvings, and may be a source for magnesium

Reference: Rock Box #21

Answer 17

marble
metamorphic rock

Question 18

Reference: Rock Box #1

Answer 18

microcline feldspar
mineral

Question 19

Reference: Rock Box #2

Answer 19

albite feldspar
mineral

Question 20

Reference: Rock Box #4

Answer 20

augite
mineral

Question 21

Reference: Rock Box #5

Answer 21

biotite mica
mineral

Question 22

Identify sample with following properties:

color varies
vitreous (like glass) texture
hardness of 3 (does not scratch glass)
double refraction for clear varieties, fizzes with HCl
used in concrete, cement, marble tiles and countertops

Reference: Rock Box #6

Answer 22

calcite
mineral

Calcite is abundantly available, primarily as limestone and in metamorphic form as marble. Calcite is formed by the chemical precipitation of calcium carbonate and the transformation of shells, coral, and algal debris into calcite. Read more here: Plant Expansion - Sylacauga, Alabama

Question 23

variety of color (not helpful to ID)
nonmetallic (can be shiny though)
white to no streak
will scratch glass
no fizz with acid test

Reference: Rock Box #7

Answer 23

quartz
mineral

Question 24

grey, white
soft greasy feel

Reference: Rock Box #19

Answer 24

talc
mineral

Question 25

foliated (layering in thin sheets)
mixed dark and light color
wrinkled foliation, often has large crystals

Reference: Rock Box #20

Answer 25

garnet schist
metamorphic

Question 26

Reference: Rock Box #32

Answer 26

malachite
mineral

Question 27

Reference: Rock Box #33

Answer 27

dolomite
mineral

Question 28

brass yellow, greenish-black streak

Reference: Rock Box #34

Answer 28

chalcopyrite
mineral

Question 29

grey, metallic, soft
used as pencil “lead”

Reference: Rock Box #35

Answer 29

graphite
mineral

Question 30

red to reddish brown streak
metallic, submetallic, earthy luster

Reference: Rock Box #37

Answer 30

hematite
mineral

Question 31

black color, black streak
slightly magnetic

Reference: Rock Box #38

Answer 31

magnetite
mineral

Question 32

bright yellow
smells like rotten eggs

Reference: Rock Box #42

Answer 32

sulfur
mineral

Question 33

colorless, light green, blue green

Reference: Rock Box #43

Answer 33

fluorite
mineral