Selection of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
What it shows:
A selection of rocks and minerals available for lecture demonstrations
How it works:
The following samples are available for show-and-tell in lecture. The samples vary in size, and only those marked with a 4 are big enough to be seen.
1. A selection of elements in their natural (unrefined) states:
native copper Cu 4
diamond C iso
gold Au
realgar (silver ore) 4
graphite C hex 4
Silver Ag
sulfur S orth 4
2. Single or large multiple crystals:
amethyst SiO2 hex
chalcopyrite CuFeS2 tet
galena PbS iso 4
garnet X3Y2(SiO4)3 [X=Ca, Fe2+, Mg, Mn2+ Y=Al, Cr, Fe3+, Mn3+, Ti, V, Zr]
haematite (kidneystone) Fe2O3hex 4
iron pyrite FeS iso 4
mica K4Al12Si12O40(OH)3 4
quartz Si02 hex 4
sodium chloride NaCl iso 4
3. A selection of minerals that have interesting/beautiful structure:
agate SiO2
amethyst SiO2 hex
aquamarine Be3Al2(SiO3)6
asbestos Serpentine (Mg, Fe, Ni)3Si2O5(OH)4 4
azurite Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 mono
bauxite Al2O3 4
cassiterite SnO2 tet
flint (siliceous)
galena PbS iso
lapis lazuli (Na, Ca)7-8(Al, Si)12(O, S)24[SO4, C12(OH)2] iso
opal Si2.nH2O
stibnite Sb2S3 orth
petrified wood 4
4. Fluorescent Minerals:
Calcite CaCO3 (pink)
Willenite Zn2SO4 (green)
Key to crystal structure:
hex = hexagonal
iso = isometric
mono = monoclinic
orth = orthorhombic
Comments:
A further selection of samples exist in the Department of Geology (contact Prof. Heinrich Holland).
References:
1. L. G. Berry, B. Mason, R. V. Dietrich Mineralogy 2ed (W. H. Freeman, 1983)
2. M. Prinz, G. Harlow, J. Peters (ed.) Simon & Schuster's Guide to Rocks and Minerals (Simon & Schuster, NY, 1978)