How to identify rocks & minerals!
Jul 10, 2009 15:03:36 GMT -5
marblehunter, As I in does tries!, and 1 more like this
Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2009 15:03:36 GMT -5
Last modified 09 Apr 13.
Greetings Ladies & Gents, how to identify rocks & minerals!
Most rocks & minerals can be identified by inspecting or testing their physical properties.
These properties are Radioactivity, Luster, Hardness, Fracture, Streak, Cleavage, Specific Gravity,
Crystaline Structure, Transparency, Color, Fluorescence, Magnetism,
Parting, Acid Reaction, Smell, Touch & Solubility.
Please note: That any single test will not help you to determine what the rock is, it will only tell the
basic parameters, the more different tests you do it will tell you what your rock it is not, only once
you have gone through most of the tests, the whole of the information that you have been
collecting will probally point to a few rock types.
Normally 90% of the rocks most people pickup for tumbling is within either the Chalcedony (Moh's 6.5-7.0)
or the Quartz (Moh's 7.0) family groups, which are large rock groups.
Hardness:
Tools requred, a notepad a Graphite pencil, a Do It Your Self, Basic or Profession, Hardness testing kit.
First examine the rock in question, noting if it is wholly the same color & or structure, or is multi-colored
& or multi-structured.
If the rock in question is wholly the same color & or structure, a single scratch test is all that
is required.
If the rock in question is multi-colored & or multi-structured, you must retest all areas where there
is a change in color or structure, it may not be possible to scratch test all areas, but please do try.
Other useful web-links:
Primary rock types: Igneous, Sedimentary & Metamorphic
Rock & minerals tests
Mindat's Rock & minerals database Search
List of rock types
Wiki: List of minerals
Within 100 miles (160Km) radius of my home i have all 3 types of rock, also there is pockets where
the rocks are radioactive from just above background radiation level (Gold, Lignite coal & Quartz)
to extreme levels of Gamma radiation; (Granite or Sandstone can sometimes convert into Pitch Blend
(Uraninite) Uranium ore, as Scotland has some of the oldest rocks on planet Earth & when rocks
get very old they start to decompose (go rotten) & sometimes they go nuclear!
So my 1st test is to check if the rock is radioactive before i even touch it, by using a Geiger counter
or Dosimeter!
If rock or stone is radioactive, i note it's mili-Roentgens (mR) / Milli-Sieverts (mSv) count
& it's location or it's Global Positioning System, then either move on or leave the area,
depending upon the (mR) / (mSv) count.
If the rock or stone is non-radioactive, begin collecting & start documenting it's location or GPS
& physical properties of the rock or stone.
Sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry & it is similar to my own exposure in May 1978.
Radioactive rock throws school into scare.
--
I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens sometimes come
for a visit & about 4 miles west from that monstrosity & 7 miles west of this new monstrosity!
Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1: Vendors worldwide, 2: FAQS: Tags & Smilies,
3: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4: Save money on expensive grits & polishes,
5: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rotary Tumbling Guide!
Greetings Ladies & Gents, how to identify rocks & minerals!
Most rocks & minerals can be identified by inspecting or testing their physical properties.
These properties are Radioactivity, Luster, Hardness, Fracture, Streak, Cleavage, Specific Gravity,
Crystaline Structure, Transparency, Color, Fluorescence, Magnetism,
Parting, Acid Reaction, Smell, Touch & Solubility.
Please note: That any single test will not help you to determine what the rock is, it will only tell the
basic parameters, the more different tests you do it will tell you what your rock it is not, only once
you have gone through most of the tests, the whole of the information that you have been
collecting will probally point to a few rock types.
Normally 90% of the rocks most people pickup for tumbling is within either the Chalcedony (Moh's 6.5-7.0)
or the Quartz (Moh's 7.0) family groups, which are large rock groups.
Hardness:
Tools requred, a notepad a Graphite pencil, a Do It Your Self, Basic or Profession, Hardness testing kit.
First examine the rock in question, noting if it is wholly the same color & or structure, or is multi-colored
& or multi-structured.
If the rock in question is wholly the same color & or structure, a single scratch test is all that
is required.
If the rock in question is multi-colored & or multi-structured, you must retest all areas where there
is a change in color or structure, it may not be possible to scratch test all areas, but please do try.
Other useful web-links:
Primary rock types: Igneous, Sedimentary & Metamorphic
Rock & minerals tests
Mindat's Rock & minerals database Search
List of rock types
Wiki: List of minerals
Within 100 miles (160Km) radius of my home i have all 3 types of rock, also there is pockets where
the rocks are radioactive from just above background radiation level (Gold, Lignite coal & Quartz)
to extreme levels of Gamma radiation; (Granite or Sandstone can sometimes convert into Pitch Blend
(Uraninite) Uranium ore, as Scotland has some of the oldest rocks on planet Earth & when rocks
get very old they start to decompose (go rotten) & sometimes they go nuclear!
So my 1st test is to check if the rock is radioactive before i even touch it, by using a Geiger counter
or Dosimeter!
If rock or stone is radioactive, i note it's mili-Roentgens (mR) / Milli-Sieverts (mSv) count
& it's location or it's Global Positioning System, then either move on or leave the area,
depending upon the (mR) / (mSv) count.
If the rock or stone is non-radioactive, begin collecting & start documenting it's location or GPS
& physical properties of the rock or stone.
Sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry & it is similar to my own exposure in May 1978.
Radioactive rock throws school into scare.
--
I hail from (The Barony of Seabegs) Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, U.K, where aliens sometimes come
for a visit & about 4 miles west from that monstrosity & 7 miles west of this new monstrosity!
Sticky's: their contents are resource information 1: Vendors worldwide, 2: FAQS: Tags & Smilies,
3: How to identify rocks & minerals, 4: Save money on expensive grits & polishes,
5: Aussie Lapidary Forum: Rotary Tumbling Guide!