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Figure  1.  Igneous  rocks  ID  chart.

Figure  2.  Metamorphic  rocks  ID  chart.

often  grayish-­green,

aligned  minerals,

Non-­Granular
(Massive)

119
Figure  3.  Sedimentary  rocks  ID  chart.

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(i.e.  fossiliferous  sandstone  or  
fossiliferous  shale)

120
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,PSRUWDQW,JQHRXV0LQHUDOV

0LQHUDO 'LDJQRVWLF0LQHUDO3URSHUWLHV &RPSRVLWLRQ

Many  colors  (often  dull,  sometimes  translucent),  hard  (scratches  glass),  

Quartz Felsic
conchoidal  fracture  (can  break  in  smooth  curves),  no  cleavage
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Mica
JRRGFOHDYDJHÀDNHVRIILQWRWKLQVKHHWV
White/pink/tan,  hard  (scratches  glass),  
Feldspar
good  cleavage  in  2  directions
Amphibole/ Dark  (black  or  greenish  gray),  hard  (scratches  glass),  
Pyroxene good  cleavage
Olivine Green  (weathers  to  orange),  hard  (scratches  glass),  no  cleavage 0D¿F

,PSRUWDQW6HGLPHQWDU\0LQHUDOV

0LQHUDO 'LDJQRVWLF0LQHUDO3URSHUWLHV
Many  colors  (often  dull,  sometimes  translucent),  hard  (scratches  glass),  conchoidal  fracture  
Quartz
(can  break  in  smooth  curves),  no  cleavage
:KLWHFDQEHDOPRVWFOHDUVRIWFDQEHHDVLO\VFUDWFKHGZLWKD¿QJHUQDLO
Gypsum
good  cleavage  in  2  directions  (but  not  at  90o)
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Calcite
VRIWVFUDWFKHGZLWKDJODVVEXWQRWZLWKD¿QJHUQDLO
White  or  translucent,  soft,  3  cleavage  planes  (cubic  crystals),  
+DOLWH
salty  taste  (taste  at  your  own  risk!)
Limonite Yellow-­orange,  soft,  amorphous  (no  constant  or  regular  shape)
Feldspar White/pink/tan,  hard  (scratches  glass),  good  cleavage  in  2  directions

,PSRUWDQW0HWDPRUSKLF0LQHUDOV

0LQHUDO 'LDJQRVWLF0LQHUDO3URSHUWLHV 0HWDPRUSKLF*UDGH

Many  colors  (often  dull,  sometimes  translucent),  hard  (scratches  
Quartz glass),  conchoidal  fracture  (can  break  in  smooth  curves),   Any
no  cleavage
Often  dark  red,  hard  (scratches  glass),  can  have  conchoidal  frac-­
Garnet Medium-­high  or  higher
ture  (break  in  smooth  curves),  no  cleavage,  crystal  is  12-­sided  
:KLWHVRIWVFUDWFKHGZLWKDNQLIHEXWQRWZLWKD¿QJHUQDLO
Calcite Any
FOHDYDJHLQGLUHFWLRQVUKRPELFUHDFWV¿]]HVZLWKGLOXWHDFLG
%URZQWUDQVOXFHQWVRIWVFUDWFKHVZLWK¿QJHUQDLOJRRG
Mica Medium-­low  or  higher
FOHDYDJHÀDNHVRIILQWRWKLQVKHHWV
Light  to  dark  green,  hard,  good  cleavage,  needle-­shaped  crystals.    
Actinolite Medium-­high  or  higher
A  type  of  amphibole  
White/pink/tan,  hard  (scratches  glass),  good  cleavage  in  
Feldspar +LJK
2  directions

121