Rocks & Minerals B/C

[karanbe123]

Are there usually stations with a map that shows the specimens locations and asks you to identify it based on that?

Actually I have rarely seen it happen, but if they are to do that it is usually regarding sedimentary rocks in areas such as beaches(Atlantic Coast), caves(Carlsbad Caverns), etc. One thing to keep an eye on for minerals, is that they may ask what country the specimen is mostly found or mined in.

[Kyanite]

Are there usually stations with a map that shows the specimens locations and asks you to identify it based on that?

I have never seen one and actually had very few location based questions as there are so many localities for each mineral it is incredibly hard to test on it.

I just remembered there is one that I see fairly often. Lots of tests will ask about the famous Selenite localities in Mexico (Naica Mine).

[orangewhale]

Does anyone have tips on identifying chalcopyrite vs bornite? I always get them mixed up

[ScottMaurer19]

Does anyone have tips on identifying chalcopyrite vs bornite? I always get them mixed up

Chalcopyrite that looks like bornite is because it has been acid treated. As a result I am typically unsure about which to answer when they have a chalcopyrite acid treated because often times it is sold as "peacock copper ore" and so they assume it is bornite. Try to look for small amounts of gold peeking through the bright colors and if it has that then it is chalcopyrite (or should be) and then if it isn't gold, then it should be bornite.

[Kyanite]

Does anyone have tips on identifying chalcopyrite vs bornite? I always get them mixed up

For me Chalcopyrite is gold all around while most Bornite specimens I have seen have blue or purple on small sections of the rock.

[dxu46]

Does anyone have tips on identifying chalcopyrite vs bornite? I always get them mixed up

For me Chalcopyrite is gold all around while most Bornite specimens I have seen have blue or purple on small sections of the rock.

The blue and purple on bornite is the result of acid treating and is usually done to distinguish the specimens (at least that's what an ES told us)

[ScottMaurer19]

Does anyone have tips on identifying chalcopyrite vs bornite? I always get them mixed up

For me Chalcopyrite is gold all around while most Bornite specimens I have seen have blue or purple on small sections of the rock.

The blue and purple on bornite is the result of acid treating and is usually done to distinguish the specimens (at least that's what an ES told us)

That ES is mostly wrong... Chalcopyrite is called peacock copper ore as well as bornite because when the chalcopyrite is acid treated then it turns a bunch of pretty colors like bornite.

[Kyanite]

For me Chalcopyrite is gold all around while most Bornite specimens I have seen have blue or purple on small sections of the rock.

The blue and purple on bornite is the result of acid treating and is usually done to distinguish the specimens (at least that's what an ES told us)

That ES is mostly wrong... Chalcopyrite is called peacock copper ore as well as bornite because when the chalcopyrite is acid treated then it turns a bunch of pretty colors like bornite.

https://csmsgeologypost.blogspot.com/20 ... yrite.html Heres a good website on the process of it all if anyone is curious.

[akhaire1]

Are we allowed to get pictures of rocks and minerals in the binder? Also how do we find streak color or do an acid test if they do not give us knife/glass to scratch or HCL to do the acid test?
How do you identify the rocks and minerals just by looking at them since they come in several varieties and colors?

[dxu46]

Are we allowed to get pictures of rocks and minerals in the binder? Also how do we find streak color or do an acid test if they do not give us knife/glass to scratch or HCL to do the acid test?
How do you identify the rocks and minerals just by looking at them since they come in several varieties and colors?

You are most definitely allowed to have pics in your binder. As for streak/acid, tests that require that will usually provide what will happen (e.g. This mineral (Hematite) has a red streak, and this mineral (Azurite) reacts with HCl.)