Rocks & Minerals B/C 2017

[Magikarpmaster629]

Never too early to get started! This is also a fair place for discussion of the event.

We should be using this rocks and minerals list as the list for next year, since most ID lists don't change very much over the years.


1. What mineral family does this specimen belong to?
2. What specific mineral is it?
3. What is its chemical composition?

[a boy]

i love rocks! (Click to Show Hidden Text)

1. silicates
2. quartz [crystal]
3. SiO2

[Magikarpmaster629]

i love rocks! (Click to Show Hidden Text)

1. silicates
2. quartz [crystal]
3. SiO2

I was thinking 1 would be quartz and 2 would be smoky quartz; but I haven't done rocks before and your answer sounds better, so it's your turn.

[azuritemalachite]

i love rocks! (Click to Show Hidden Text)

1. silicates
2. quartz [crystal]
3. SiO2

I was thinking 1 would be quartz and 2 would be smoky quartz; but I haven't done rocks before and your answer sounds better, so it's your turn.

Well smokey quartz isn't usually a variety we have to study and quartz is still a mineral not a family even though there are many variations of it. Rocks is the best; you should definitely do it next year!

[SenseiSushi]

Dang, I've been waiting for this for two long years...

[a boy]

i love rocks! (Click to Show Hidden Text)

1. silicates
2. quartz [crystal]
3. SiO2

I was thinking 1 would be quartz and 2 would be smoky quartz; but I haven't done rocks before and your answer sounds better, so it's your turn.

oops you're probably right about the smoky quartz I haven't done this in too long



1. Identify
2. Name a polymorph of this specimen

[SenseiSushi]

1. Identify
2. Name a polymorph of this specimen

Answer (Click to Show Hidden Text)

1. Calcite 
2. Aragonite

[a boy]

That's correct, your turn!

[Jaol]

Does everyone already have resources? It kinda feels like it

[Magikarpmaster629]

I've noticed that almandine is described as having a vitreous or resinous luster. However, some pictures like this one are clearly opaque; not transparent like a vitreous luster is normally. Should I go with vitreous or try to describe it myself, since I don't know what kind of luster would fit that picture?