Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Lab 3: Mineral Identification

Olivine [(Mg, Fe)2SiO4]
The picture shown is an example of peridot, a variation of olivine. Olivine is an example of a silicate mineral and its crystal structure is made up of individual tetrahedra causing it to form small, round crystals. Olivine is categorized more specifically in the dark silicate group and is characterized by its greenish color and its glassy luster. It is typically found in the Earth's mantle and is brought to the surface through volcanic activity and can be found most commonly in basalt, an igneous rock. 
Click here to learn more about olivine!

Fluorite [CaF2]
Fluorite is a non-silicate mineral and is a member of the halide group. It typically comes in purple (as shown), green, or yellow, but can come in other colors. It is also a fairly soft mineral and has four lines of cleavage. Fluorite is often found inside of rocks that have resulted from some sort of hydrothermal activity. Fluorite is used for many industrial purposes including steelmaking and lens making. 

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