- #1
z.js said:Can you help me identify this mineral and rock? I can't.
I think the mineral is quartz.
I tried the UV light, but it didn't work.
(Mebbe it's something precious!)
Simon Bridge said:I doubt we can tell exactly from the picture.
What do you mean by "UV light ... didn't work"?
How did you employ the UV light?
What were you expecting?
What happened?
It looks like quartz or agate embedded in something igneous... but really just some white stuff in some grey stuff.
Have you shown it to a geologist? A local rockhound?
Probably - still, nice not to have to guess and I like to encourage more scientific reporting in scientific sites ;)I expect the OP was checking for fluorescence and phosphorescence of certain minerals.
That hadn't occurred to me...he picture looks like some nest cleaning aggomeration from some burrowing animal of years gone past.
Hot enough to know if it makes a good rock or not! Anyway let's see if it melts.z.js said:How hot is a normal alcohol burner?
z.js said:The black stuff at the bottom scratched metal. It has a density of about 2.8 g/cm3, and it is not attracted by a magnet. I will see if it melts when I heat it. How hot is a normal alcohol burner?
256bits said:There are many metals - lead, tin, copper, iron, steel.
You need the hardness of the rock based on a scale to properly identify.
z.js said:The black stuff scratched a steel knife.
PhysicoRaj said:Then don't go to heat it.
Enigman said:Go raid a chem lab:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualitative_inorganic_analysis
(I miss flame tests )
z.js said:The black rock at the bottom didn't.
The purpose of identifying minerals is to classify and categorize them based on their physical and chemical properties. This allows scientists to understand their origin, formation, and potential uses.
The methods used to identify minerals include visual observations, such as color and luster, as well as physical tests like hardness, streak, and density. Chemical tests, such as acid reactions, can also be used.
Yes, minerals can have the same physical properties, but they will have different chemical compositions. For example, quartz and diamond both have a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, but they have different chemical compositions.
Scientists use a variety of techniques, such as X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy, to determine the chemical composition of a mineral. These methods analyze the elements present in the mineral and their relative abundance.
Correctly identifying minerals is important because it allows scientists to understand their properties, potential uses, and geological significance. It also helps in the identification of valuable minerals and aids in the study of Earth's history and processes.