Common Minerals and RocksCrosby, William O. (William Otis)
Science
Common Minerals and Rocks
Crosby, William O. (William Otis)
Geology -- Study and teaching
23. Chrysolite (Olivine).—Silicate of magnesium and iron: silica (SiO₂),
41; magnesia (MgO), 51; protoxide of iron (Fe₂O₃), 8; = 100.
Orthorhombic system; but usually in irregular glassy grains. Hardness,
6-7. Sp. gr., 3.3-3.5. Lustre, vitreous; color, usually some shade of
green; and streak, white. Chrysolite sometimes closely resembles quartz,
but its green color usually suffices to distinguish it. It is a common
constituent of basalt and allied rocks. By absorption of water it is
changed into serpentine and talc. See examples in specimen.
24. Garnet.—The composition of this mineral is extremely variable; but
the most important variety is a basic silicate of aluminum and iron:
silica (SiO₂), 37; alumina (Al₂O₃), 20; and protoxide of iron (FeO), 43;
= 100. Isometric system, usually in distinct crystals, twelve-sided
(dodecahedrons) and twenty-four-sided (trapezohedrons) forms being most
common. Hardness, 6.5-7.5; average as hard as quartz. Sp. gr., 3.15-4.3;
compare with the high percentage of iron. Lustre, vitreous; colors,
various, usually some shade of red or brown; and streak, white. Some
varieties contain iron enough to make them magnetic. Garnet is easily
distinguished by its form, color, and hardness from all other minerals.
It is a common but not an abundant mineral, occurring most frequently in
gneiss, mica schist, and other stratified crystalline rocks. See
examples in specimen.
25. Pyrite.—Sulphide of iron: sulphur, 53.3; iron, 46.7; = 100.
Isometric system, occurring usually in distinct crystals, the cube and
the twelve-sided form known as the pyritohedron being the most common.
Hardness, 6-6.5, striking fire with steel. Sp. gr., 4.8-5.2; heavy
because rich in iron. Lustre, metallic and splendent. Color, pale,
brass-yellow, and streak, greenish or brownish. Pyrite is sometimes
mistaken for gold, but it is not malleable; while its color, hardness,
and specific gravity, combined, easily distinguish it from all common
minerals. As an accessory rock-constituent, pyrite occurs usually in
isolated cubes or pyritohedrons. Specimen 10.
_Textures of Rocks._
_Texture_ is a general name for those smaller structural features of
rocks which can be studied in _hand specimens_, and which depend upon
the _forms_ and _sizes_ of the _constituent particles_ of the rocks, and
the _ways_ in which these are _united_.
By “constituent particles” we mean, not the atoms or molecules of matter
composing the rocks, but the _pebbles_ in conglomerate, _grains of sand_
in sandstone, _crystals of quartz_, _feldspar_, and _mica_ in granite,
etc. The four most important textures are:—
(1) _Fragmental texture._—The rock is composed of mere irregular,
angular, or rounded, but visible, fragments. Examples: sand, sandstone,
gravel, conglomerate, etc. Specimens 30, 31, 28, 29.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account