Geology Practical Exam

Twinning in crystals occurs where one part of a crystal has grown or has been deformed such that its atomic
structure is rotated or reversed compared with the other part. Multiple twinning occurs and is a diagnostic
property in the plagioclase feldspars.

Iridescence-Different angle view different colour

Streak-Colour of powdered mineral,seen by scraping the mineral across a plate of

unglazed hard porcelain.

CLEAVAGE-directions which are related to planes of weakness in the atomic structure of the mineral.
Some minerals, such as quartz and garnet, possess no cleavages, whereas others may have one (micas),
two (pyroxenes and amphiboles),three (galena) or four ( uorite).

Fracture-A surface formed by breaking the mineral along a direction which is not a cleavage.
A curved,rippled fracture is termed conchoidal (shell-like).

Earthy fracture-Earthy fracture is reminiscent of freshly broken soil. It is frequently seen in relatively soft,
loosely bound minerals, such as limonite, kaolinite and aluminite.

Hackly fracture-is jagged, sharp and not even. It occurs when metals are torn.

Splintery fracture-Splintery fracture comprises sharp elongated points. It is particularly seen in brous
minerals such as chrysotile, but may also occur in non- brous minerals such as kyanite.
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Uneven fracture-Uneven fracture is a rough surface or one with random irregularities.

Lustre-Light is re ected from the surface of a mineral, the amount of light depending on physical qualities of
the surface(such as its smoothness and transparency)
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 Speci c Gravity-a) low speci c gravity minerals include silicates, carbonates, sulphates and halides, with
speci c gravities ranging between 2.2 and 4.0;
b) medium speci c gravity minerals include metallic ores such as sulphides and oxides, with speci c
gravities between 4.5 and 7.5;
c) high speci c gravity minerals include native metallic elements such as pure copper, gold andsilver; but
these are rare minerals and are very unlikely to be encountered.

Diphaneity-
Transparent,Translucent,Opaque

Hardness-The relative hardness (H) of two

minerals is de ned by scratching each with
the other and seeing which one is
gouged.The only common mineral that has
a hardness greater than 7 is garnet.

Form-Crystalline,Amorphous

Igneous Petrology
Crystallinity
Holocrystalline-completely crystalline
Hypocrystalline-partly crystalline(crystal:glass 3:5)
Holohyaline-completely glassy

Colour
Leucocratic-Light coloured
Mesocratic-moderate light moderate dark
Melanocratic-Dark coloured

Genetic Classi cation

Intrusive rocks-Coarse grained(have larger crystals due to slow cooling)
Extrusive rocks-Fine grained (smaller crystals due to rapid cooling)
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 Fabric/Texture
Phaneritic-Coarse grained

Peridotite Gabbro
Aphanetic- ne grained
Porphyritic-Consisting of 2 or more different crystals of different sizes
Glassy

Obsidian

Pyroclastic-fragmental

Mineralogy
Silver-Muscovite
Green-Chloride
Red-Fe
Dark coloured-Pyroxene(80%),Hornblende(20%),Biotite,garnet(Dark purplish)
Light coloured-feldspar,quartz,plagioclase
Olivine-Green brown
Potassium feldspar-pink
Sodium feldspar-white
Quartz-glassy and transparent
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 Grain Size
Moderate
Fine Grained
Coarse Grained

Sedimentary Rocks

Grain size
Coarse-Gravel-
a)rounded-Conglomerate

b)angular-breccia

Medium-Sand

Fine-silt
Very ne-clay
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 Eg.shale

Classi cation
Clastic- composed of grains, fragments of pre-existing rocks.Eg-conglomerate,sandstone(Also includes
rocks made from shells)
Non Clastic-found chie y in rocks that have precipitated chemically from water (chemical sedimentary rocks),
such as limestone, dolomite and chert.
Include those formed by organisms (biochemical rocks), and those formed from organic material, such as
coal.

Sorting-extent to which the grains making up a clastic rock are all about the same size.
Well sorted-sandstone
Poorly sorted-contains a wide variety of sizes

Visible Structure
Banded
Porous
Layered
Striped
Fossiliferrous
Laminated

Grain Composition
The most common materials in sedimentary rocks: quartz
feldspar-pink
clay
calcite dolomite
rock fragments
Plagioclase-;ight gray

Metamorphic Rocks
Classi cation
Foliated-used to refer to rocks consisting of thin layers that can be separated
Non foliated
Texture
Banded/Gneissic
Schistose
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Massive
Layered

Protolith
Slate,Phyllite,Schist,Gneiss-Shale
Marble-Limestone/dolostone
Quartzite-Quartz/sandstone

Petrogenesis
Small crystal size,very ne foliation-Low Grade
Banding,large crystal size,coarse foliation-High grade
Anything in between-Intermediate grade
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