Table of Contents

Building Blocks of the Earth : Rocks and Minerals

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• 
• Epidote
• 1917.1.7
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• Epidote Classification Mineral - Silicate Sample is primarily yellowish green (pistachio) epidote with a face of milky quartz. Epidote crystals are poorly formed. ... View Full Record
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• Beryl
• 1917.1.13
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• Milky light green colored rock with mica forming on the surface. Accompanying label reads, "Yellow Beryl".... View Full Record
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• Quartz
• 1917.1.20
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• Rectangular solid stone. One smooth side, the rest of the surface is uneven. Gold, brown and orange tones. Color due to mineral either containing or contained fibers of crocidolite that has been altered to a yellow color.... View Full Record
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• Quartz crystals and Iron pyrite
• 1917.1.22
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• Three samples of well formed hexagonal milky quartz crystals with pyrite cubes and galena cubes. ... View Full Record
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• Galena
• 1917.1.23
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• Galena: Sulfide mineral Cubic, lead-gray metalic coating only on two sides of the cube, remaining sides not metalic... View Full Record
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• Prehnite
• 1917.1.27
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• Prehnite Classification Mineral: Silicate Light green/white, distinct crystals not present, rigid surfaces marked by edges of curving precrystals.... View Full Record
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• Quartz
• 1917.1.30
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• Quartz (Amethyst) Classification Mineral Tectosilicate Amethyst variety, prismatic crystals with good cleavage Violet color caused by trace amounts of ferric iron. ... View Full Record
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• Amazonite
• 1917.1.101
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• In the feldspar group, teal color, rhombohedral shape. Cleavage is perfect in one direction-crosswise crystals are prismatic ... View Full Record
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• Azurite
• 1917.1.103
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• Azurite Classification Mineral Carbonate Cleavage is good in two directions, crystals are monolinic; usually in well formed equidimensional and tabular crystals, also radiating botryoidal, incrusting and earthy. Intense azure blue color. Azurite cr... View Full Record
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• Amazonite
• 1917.1.107
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• In the feldspar group, teal color, rhombohedral shape. Cleavage is perfect in one direction-crosswise crystals are prismatic ... View Full Record
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• Quartz
• 1917.1.109
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• Smokey Quartz Classification Mineral Tectosilicate Light to medium brown translucent quartz specimen, striated crystals color due to possible exposure to natural radioactivity... View Full Record
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• Quartz
• 1917.1.110
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• Amethyst Classification Mineral Tectosilicate Pale lavendar, color caused by trace amounts of ferric iron.... View Full Record
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• Mica Biotite
• 1917.1.117
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• Mica (Biotite) Classification Mineral - Phyllosilicate Black, brown, dark green pearly, submetallic. Thin plates very elastic, more brittle with alteration, tabular.... View Full Record
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• Geode
• 1917.1.121
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• Quartz Classification Mineral -Silicate Half of a geode cut open. Entire inside of geode filled with well formed white/clear hexagonal crystals. ... View Full Record
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• Bornite
• 1917.1.634
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• Bornite mineral classification: Sulfide Gray iron ore with some oxidation occuring, one side exhibiting botryoidal bornite crystals showing iridescent purple, blue and green.... View Full Record
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• Asbestos
• 1917.1.640.1-2
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• Two samples of asbestos (chrysotile variety), fibrous.... View Full Record
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• Calcite
• 1917.1.641
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• Calcite mineral classification: Carbonate "calcite cave popcorn"-forms as rounded masses, reacts strongly to HCL.... View Full Record
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• Geode
• 1917.1.642
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• Half of the geode, well formed hexagonal quartz crystals growing toward the center.... View Full Record
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• Gypsum
• 1917.1.644.1-3
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• Gypsum mineral classification: Evaportite Three transparent gypsum crystals... View Full Record
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• Alabaster
• 1917.1.650
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• Gypsum mineral classification: Sulfate Hardened variety of alabaster, cannot scratch with finger nails, white colored.... View Full Record
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• Iron Ore
• 1917.1.688
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• Iron Ore classification: native element Limonite, botryoidal nodules.... View Full Record
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• Turquoise
• 1917.8.2
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• Turquoise Classification: Mineral - Phosphate Light to medium colored blue triclinic crystals in fine grained tan matrix. Environment: Forms as a secondary mineral in the zone of alteration in disseminated hydrothermal replacement deposits. ... View Full Record
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• Sulfur
• 1917.8.3
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• Sulfur mineral Classification - Native Elements 2 samples of small sulfur crystals, smells like rotten eggs ... View Full Record
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• Nephrite
• 1917.8.6
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• Nephrite Classification Mineral Inosilicate A basic calium, magnesium, iron silicate. Light to medium green, adiating aggregates; also bladed and compact. Variety of actinolite (or tremolite) that is made up of tough, hard, interwoven fibers that ar... View Full Record
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• Mica
• 1917.8.12
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• Purple mica with quartz crystals... View Full Record
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• Rose Quartz
• 1917.8.15
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• Rose quartz, color due to trace amounts of manganese and titanium... View Full Record
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• Beryl
• 1917.8.24
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• Beryl Classification Mineral Cyclosilicate Pale blue green blue, vitreous. Cleavage is indistinct... View Full Record
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• Pyrolusite
• 1917.8.29
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• Pyrolusite mineral classification: oxide Dendritic pyrolusite on tan limestone, pyrolusite pattern resembles leaf impressions. Limestone reacts strongly to HCL.... View Full Record
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• Graphite
• 1917.8.79
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• Graphite- Native element. Greasy feel, foliated mass, opaque black, final product of carbonization of organic substances in high grade metamorphic rocks. ... View Full Record
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• Rose Quartz
• 1917.8.82
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• Quartz mineral classification: Silicate Red color due to traces of manganese or titanium. ... View Full Record
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• Crocoite
• 1917.8.83
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• Red-orange in color, striations present, heavy crystal.... View Full Record
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• Copper
• 1917.8.84
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• Copper mineral classification: Native element. Greenish film of malachite on surface of copper, plagioclase crystals present. ... View Full Record
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• Orthoclase
• 1917.8.101
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• Orthoclase mineral classification: Silicates Part of the potassium feldspar group, perfect 90 degree cleavage, well formed crystal.... View Full Record
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• Strontianite
• 1917.8.103
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• Strontianite mineral classification: carbonate Slender crystals clustered together radiating from a central point. Base of crystals are white to pink at the tips.... View Full Record
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• Gypsum
• 1917.8.135
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• Gypsum mineral classification: evaporite small aggragate of gypsum crystals, brown (root like) veins cutting through sample.... View Full Record
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• Dolomite
• 1917.8.136
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• Dolomite mineral classification: carbonate. Variegated dolomite (white and brown), difficulty reacting to HCL.... View Full Record
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• Magnetite
• 1917.8.166
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• Loadstone variety, strongly magnetic... View Full Record
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• Geode
• 1917.9.29
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• Half of a geode, well formed quartz crystals growing toward the center.... View Full Record
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• Copper
• 1917.12.1
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• Native Copper (element) Large piece of native copper, very heavy. Drift copper... View Full Record
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• Iron Ore
• 1919.2.46
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• Two pieces of a red hematitic oolite, some pebbles are encased in the iron ore. Pieces fit together.... View Full Record
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• Hematite
• 1919.2.59
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• Mass of hematite with one side exhibiting botryoidal features (bubbles).... View Full Record
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• Calcite
• 1917.1.105
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• Calcite Crystal (multiple) Classification Mineral Carbonate White, reacts strongly to HCL.... View Full Record
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• Agate
• 1919.2.53
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• Bands of chalcedony, microcrystalline variety of quartz Round nodule with brown, green, and white layered bands.... View Full Record
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• Pyrite
• 1919.2.58
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• Pyrite mineral classification: sulfides Pyritohedral crystals along with some calcite crystals.... View Full Record
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• Copper
• 1919.4.1
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• Piece of copper with uneven edges and surface. Rounded shape, very heavy.... View Full Record
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• Hornblende
• 1919.8.10
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• Hornblende: Amphibole group Large sample with milky quartz and olivine crystals on it. Good cleavage on one face showing the 120 degree.... View Full Record
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• Azurite
• 1932.10.13
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• Azurite Classificiation Mineral - Carbonate Azurite crystals with a few traces of green malachite on linonite ... View Full Record
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• Granite
• 1917.1.657
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• Intrusive igneous rock, felsic, persilicic rock, composed of quartz, plagioclase, (possibly the red is chert)... View Full Record
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• Granite
• 1917.8.45
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• Intrusive igneous rock, persilicate rock (>65% silica), composed of anhedral potassium feldspar, anhedral quartz, and anhedral plagioclase, dark minerals present, phaneritic, porphoritic.... View Full Record
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• Granite
• 1917.8.48
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• Intrusive igneous rock, persilicic rock (>65% silica), composed of anhedral plagioclase, anhedral quartz, sunhedral-anhedral dark minerals, anhedral potassium feldspar, phaneritic, porphoritic.... View Full Record
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• Granite
• 1917.1.651
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• Intrusive igneous rock, persilicic rock (>65% silica), composed of anhedral plagioclase, anhedral quartz, anhedral potassium feldspar, and anhedral dark mineral, phaneritic. One side is polished.... View Full Record
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• Vitrophyre
• 1917.8.56
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• Volcanic igneous rock with porphoritic phenocrysts embedded in a glassy groundmass, phaneritic.... View Full Record
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• Dolerite
• 1917.8.57
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• Hypabyssal igneous rock, hyposilicic rock (<52% silica), porphoritic plagioclase phenocrysts, phaneritic.... View Full Record
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• Syenite
• 1917.8.66
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• Intrusive igneous rock, persilicic rock (>65% silica), primarily composed of nepheline and cancrinite, black minerals present, phaneritic.... View Full Record
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• Granite
• 1917.9.13
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• Intrusive igenous rock, persilicic rock (> 65% silica), composed of anhedral quartz, anhedral plagioclase, anhedral potassium feldspar, and anhedral black minerals (biotite present), phaneritic, one polished side.... View Full Record
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• Granite
• 1917.9.15
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• Correctly known as Wausau Syenite Intrusive igenous rock, persilicic rock (> 65% silica), composed of anhedral quartz, anhedral plagioclase, anhedral potassium feldspar, and anhedral black minerals, phaneritic.... View Full Record
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• Granite
• 1917.9.18
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• Intrusive igenous rock, persilicic rock (> 65% silica), composed of anhedral quartz, anhedral plagioclase, anhedral potassium feldspar, and anhedral black minerals, phaneritic.... View Full Record
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• Lava gravel
• 1919.1.1
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• Lava gravel imbedded in lava flow, gravel includes some vesicular basalt, obsidian.... View Full Record
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• Red Jasper pebble
• 1917.1.637
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• Siliceous rock, chemical sedimentary rock, variety of chalcedony (form of quartz that is compact and microcrystalline), red in color, smooth.... View Full Record
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• Quartz Monzodiorite
• 1919.8.7.1-2
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• Intrusive igneous rock, medium-course grained, phaneritic. Both samples composed of plagioclase, quartz, potassium feldspar and black minerals. Minerals are anhedral in shape. ... View Full Record
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• Granite
• 1919.8.15
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• Intrusive igenous rock, persilicic rock (> 65% silica), composed of anhedral quartz, anhedral plagioclase, anhedral potassium feldspar, and anhedral black minerals, phaneritic. "Dirty" granite, most of crystals covered up by soil... View Full Record
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• Granite
• 1932.10.15
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• Red/brown colored granite. Intrusive igneous rock, felsic, persilicic rock. Composed of quartz, plagioclase, feldspar, and few trace amounts of black minerals. ... View Full Record
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• Granite
• 1932.10.17
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• Red/brown colored granite. Intrusive igneous rock, felsic, persilicic rock. Composed of quartz, plagioclase, feldspar, and few trace amounts of black minerals. ... View Full Record
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• Granite (Laurentian)
• 1937.5.2
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• Intrusive igneous rock, composed of quartz, plagioclase, potassium feldspar and black minerals, phaneritic crystals. Crystals can only be seen on one face, remaining sides are weathered.... View Full Record
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• Granite (Laurentian)
• 1937.5.3
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• Intrusive igneous rock, persilicate rock (>65% silica), composed of anhedral potassium feldspar, anhedral quartz, and anhedral plagioclase, dark minerals present, phaneritic, porphoritic.... View Full Record
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• Granite (Laurentian)
• 1937.5.4
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• Intrusive igneous rock, persilicic rock (>65% silica), composed of anhedral plagioclase, anhedral quartz, anhedral potassium feldspar, and anhedral dark mineral, phaneritic.... View Full Record
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• Coquina
• 1917.1.666
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• A poorly cemented limestone composed of broken shell pieces.... View Full Record
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• Sandstone
• 1917.8.73
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• Altering layers of red/brown to gray. Sandstone that contains clay minerals.... View Full Record
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• Limestone
• 1919.8.5
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• Dull gray limestone, reacts stronly to hydrochloric acid, no identifiable fossils in matrix.... View Full Record
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• Sandstone
• 1919.8.6
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• Quartz arenite variety of sandstone, well sorted, subrounded-rounded, course sand held together by quartz cement.... View Full Record
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• Sandstone
• 1957.12.1
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• Tan colored sandstone, subround-rounded quartz grains, silica cement, well sorted, clean matrix... View Full Record
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• Iron Ore
• 2011.18.1
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• Banded Iron Formation which consists of alternating bands of red chert (jasper; cryptocrystalline quartz - SiO2) and hematite (iron oxide - Fe2O3). ... View Full Record
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• Sandstone
• 2017.1.18
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• Banded Sandstone, alternating layers of brown, white and tan. Well sorted grains, subrounded grains.... View Full Record
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• Soapstone
• 1917.1.649
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• Metamorphic rock primarily composed of talc, gray in color, soapy feeling, very soft (can scratch with finger nails).... View Full Record
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• Catlinite
• 1917.1.653
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• Rectangular block of metamorphosed mudstone, fine grained, easliy carved. Red/tan due to the presence of iron oxides.... View Full Record
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• Schist
• 1917.1.660
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• Regional metamorphic rock primarily composed of talc, gray/green in color, soapy feeling. Three pieces, pieces fit together, very smooth (greasy), one side is polished, light green color.... View Full Record
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• Serpentine
• 1917.1.661
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• Regional metamorphic rock, ultramafic Dark green color with obsidian phenocrysts, magneitic... View Full Record
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• Schist
• 1917.8.5
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• Regional metamorphic rock Uneven granular, medium grained with prominent parallel mineral orientation. Prominent schistose foliation produced by plane-parallel alignment of crystalline minerals. Foliation is irregular and wavy. Color is silvery whit... View Full Record
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• Schist
• 1917.8.37
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• Many elongated tourmaline minerals with vertical striations, hexagonal in cross section, in mica schist... View Full Record
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• Pink Marble
• 1917.8.100
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• Marble rock classification: Regional and contact metamorphic rock, calcareous (reacts strongly to HCL), derived from fairly pure limestones recrystallized either by dynamic, regional or contact metamorphism. Hard to determine which metamorphism witho... View Full Record
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• Ophicalcite
• 1917.8.105
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• A recrystallized metamorphic rock primarily composed of calcite (white mineral) and sepentine (green mineral), some black minerals are present. Commonly formed by dedolomitization of a siliceous dolostone.... View Full Record
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• Gneiss
• 1917.8.121
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• Regional metamorphic rock, layers of white minerals and black minerals (biotite)... View Full Record
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• Schist
• 1917.8.130
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• Quartz-sericite schist is a variety of the rock than contains a greater amount of the mineral than normal. Contains significant amounts of sericite (fine-grained muscovite or paragonite) and quartz. Layered and slightly foliated.... View Full Record
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• Slate
• 1919.2.60
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• Three pieces of iron bearing slate. One is a single slate slab, remaining two are layered section of slate. Slightly metallic. Contact metamorphic rock... View Full Record