Rocks & Minerals Extra Credit

Garnet Mineral Color: All colors except for Blue Luster: Dull Vitreous Group: Silicates Uses: Jewelry, Gemstone, January Birthstone

Amphibolite Rock (Metamorphic) Type: Non-Foliated Uses: Construction, Paving, Facing of Buildings

Beryl Mineral Color: Aqua Blue, Emerald Green, Silver Luster: Vitreous, Waxy Group: Silicates Uses: Gemstone, Harden other minerals, Mining Beryllium

Rhyolite Rock (Igneous) Type: Extrusive Texture: Porphyritic Uses: Aggregate, Cutting Tool (Prehistoric), Jewelry

Gabbro Rock (Igneous) Type: Intrusive Texture: Coarse-Grained Uses: Floor Tiles, Countertops, Facing Stone

Mica Mineral Color: Brown, Silver, Green, White Luster: Translucent Group: Silicates Uses: Electronic Insulators, Paint, Roofing

Scoria Rock (Igneous) Type: Extrusive Texture: Vesicular Uses: Landscaping, Drainage, Gas Grills

Gypsum Mineral Color: Colorless or White Luster: Waxy Group: Sulfate Uses: Fertilizer, Plaster, Finish for Walls and Ceilings

Galena Mineral Color: Lead Gray Luster: Metallic Group: Sulfide Uses: Bullets, Gasoline and Batteries

Topaz Mineral Color: Colorless unless the presence of impurities Luster: Transparent Group: Silicate Uses: Jewelry, Scouring Pads, Knife Sharpening

Pyroxene Mineral Color: Black Luster: Shiny Group: Silicate Uses: Ornamental Uses, Fuel, Art

Diorite Rock (Igneous) Type: Intrusive Texture: Coarse-Grained Uses: Countertops, Pavement, Sculptures

Granite Rock (Igneous) Type: Intrusive Texture: Coarse-Grained Uses: Countertops, Monuments, Landscaping

Shale Rock (Sedimentary) Type: Clastic Texture: Fine-Grained Uses: Produces Natural Gas & Oil, Clay, Cement

Conglomerate Rock (Sedimentary) Type: Clastic Texture: Fine-Grained Uses: Construction, Landscaping, Tile

Peridotite Rock (Igneous) Type: Intrusive Texture: Coarse-Grained Uses: Filters

Quartz Mineral Color: Colorless Luster: Transparent Group: Silicate Uses: Glassmaking, Optical Instruments, Concrete

Gneiss Rock (Metamorphic) Type: Foliated Uses: Flooring, Landscaping, Gravestones

Andesite Rock (Igneous) Type: Extrusive Texture: Fine-Grained Uses: Flooring, Bricks, Landscaping

Dolomite Mineral Color: White Luster: Vitreous Group: Carbonate Uses: Building and Ornamental Stones, Furnace Linings

Tuff Rock (Igneous) Type: Extrusive Texture: Fine-Grained Uses: Sculpture & Construction

Serpentinite Rock (Metamorphic) Type: Non-Foliated Uses: Sculpture, Jewelry, Chimney Pipes

Limestone Rock (Sedimentary) Type: Clastic Texture: Fine-Grained Uses: Road Base, Landscaping, Toothpaste Filler

Granulite Rock (Metamorphic) Type: Non-Foliated Uses: Blending Fertilizers, Landscaping

Obsidian Rock (Igneous) Type: Extrusive Texture: No Crystals (Glassy) Uses: Cutting Tools, Jewelry, Scalpels

Basalt Rock (Igneous) Type: Extrusive Texture: Coarse-Grained Uses: Thermal Insulator, Sculpture, Making Cobblestones

Biotite Mineral Color: Black, Dark Brown, Gray, Yellow & White Luster: Vitreous to Pearly Group: Silicate Uses: Electrical Devices, Aging of Other Rocks, Surface Treatment in Decorative Concrete

Pumice Rock (Igneous) Type: Extrusive Texture: Vesicular Uses: Light-Weight Concrete, Abrasive, Pencil Erasers

Pegmatite Rock (Igneous) Type: Extrusive Texture: Coarse-Grained Uses: Mount Rushmore, Mined for Rare Earth Minerals

Sandstone Rock (Sedimentary) Type: Clastic Texture: Fine-Grained Uses: Grindstones, Housewares, Paving

Anthracite Coal Rock (Sedimentary) Type: Non-Clastic Texture: Smooth & Shiny Uses: Refining Metals, Energy Source, Filtration

Schist Rock (Metamorphic) Type: Foliated Uses: Landscaping, Rock Walls, Jewelry

Chert Rock (Sedimentary) Type: Clastic Texture: Fine-Grained Uses: Archaic Tools & Weapons, Starting Fires

Corundum Mineral Color: Colorless unless there are impurities Luster: Vitreous Group: Oxide Uses: Sandpaper, Jewelry, Grinding Wheels

Halite Mineral Color: Colorless unless there are impurities Luster: Transparent Group: Chloride Uses: Melting Ice, Enhancing Flavor

Soapstone Rock (Metamorphic) Type: Non-Foliated Uses: Countertops, Sculpture, Landscaping

Graphite Mineral Color: Silver Grey to Black Luster: Metallic Group: Native Element Uses: Batteries, Brake Linings, Lubricants

Diamond Mineral Color: Clear Luster: Transparent (Bright) Group: Carbonate Uses: Jewelry, Cutting Tools, X-Ray Machines

Malachite Mineral Color: Green Luster: Opaque Group: Carbonate Uses: Jewelry, Paint Pigments, Harden Tools

Azurite Mineral Color: Blue Luster: Vitreous Group: Carbonate Uses: Gemstone, Ornamental, Blue Pigment (when crushed)

Gold Mineral Color: Bright Yellow Luster: Metallic Group: Native Element Uses: Jewelry, Currency, Statues

Sulfur Mineral Color: Yellow or Yellow-Brown Luster: Dull Group: Sulfide Uses: Rubber Dye, Insecticide, Matches

Barite Mineral Color: White or Colorless Luster: Vitreous or Pearly Group: Sulfate Uses: Paint Filler, Medical Uses, Plastics

Pyrite Mineral Color: Bright, Brassy Yellow Luster: Vitreous or Pearly Group: Sulfide Uses: Making Sulfur Dioxide and Sulfuric Acid, Jewelry, Crystal Radios

Hematite Mineral Color: Black, Gray, Brown or Red Luster: Opaque Group: Oxide Uses: Iron-Making, Jewelry, Face Paint

Talc Mineral Color: Pale Green, White or White-Gray Luster: Vitreous or Pearly Group: Silicate Uses: Talcum Powder, Ceramics, Paint

Calcite Mineral Color: White or Gray, Yellow or Green with impurities Luster: Vitreous or Pearly Group: Carbonate Uses: Dissolve Acid, Gun and Bomb Sites, Construction (in the form of Limestone)

Fluorite Mineral Color: purple, blue, green, yellow, colorless, brown, pink, black and reddish orange Luster: Non-Metallic Group: Halide Uses: Coating for cooking utensils, manufacture of steel, ornamental uses

Apatite Mineral Color: Usually Green, but may have impurities of other colors Luster: Dull Vitreous Group: Silicate Uses: Fertilizer, Gemstone, Removal of Radioactive Waste

Phylite Rock (Metamorphic) Type: Foliated Uses: Countertops, Gravel, Landscaping