Virtual CollectionMain MenuThe Brock University Earth Sciences Virtual Collectionrocks, minerals, and fossils in a digital format.IndexHow to get to where you're goingERSC 3P90Index of samples for ERSC 3P90 LabsERSC 1P01 Mineral Sample image IndexDirections to the pictures of images for first-year Earth Science classesERSC1P01 Igneous Sample IndexIndex of igneous samples for first-year labsERSC1P01 Metamorphic Sample IndexIndex of metamorphic samples for first-year labsERSC 1P01 FossilsERSC Misc Rock Samples (unnamed)Whole rock sample imageryIgneous Rock samplesA place to explore rocks that have crystallized from molten materialVolcanic SamplesVolcanic samplesMeteoritesSedimentology Sample IndexAccess to sedimentology sample imageryMineralogy Quick Quiz PicturesA smattering of samples from the mineralogy collection to test your ability to recognize samples visually.A small collection of polished thin section viewsA small collection of polished thin section viewsRick Cheel4c2cab10f340dae1a53f5b584acd3f5528e40a41Mariek Schmidt3b678a5bd42eb8bf9a55fb761e5f17b11ce872c1Justin Pentescoe1b177acadc784b8497de179c36bc8e98f92c5e3Jordyn Schumacher063e6b5cd9d78fa0c5456d90b29abfa4f185e97cFrank Fuetendee05431475b87c68ebf15bbea4bfeac11808e9eAstride Silis79b69046c55b5f6cbc0bffd051aa83b3482e29a8
DruzyQuartz02
12020-05-27T21:34:49+00:00Justin Pentescoe1b177acadc784b8497de179c36bc8e98f92c5e3191Close up on druzy quartz crystalsplain2020-05-27T21:34:49+00:00JT PentescoJustin Pentescoe1b177acadc784b8497de179c36bc8e98f92c5e3
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12020-05-27T21:18:29+00:00Mineralogy Quick Quiz Pictures25A smattering of samples from the mineralogy collection to test your ability to recognize samples visually.plain2020-06-08T18:00:47+00:00Let us begin with an old friend which in this case can be recognized by its scalenohedron crystals (dog's tooth shape).
Another familiar sample that people new to mineralogy sometimes confuse with calcite is below. This mineral crystallizes at much higher temperatures than calcite, but at lower temperatures relative to other silicates.
Here is a closer look at the picture above You may be more used to seeing that mineral, quartz, as euhedral crystals such as those below
The next mineral occurs in most igneous rocks as well as often occurring in marbles and metamorphic rock¹. More often microscopic, the sample below is big enough to be from a pegmatite, being over 3 cm across. It is harder than calcite and is softer than quartz.
[1] John W. Anthony, Richard A. Bideaux, Kenneth W. Bladh, and Monte C. Nichols, Eds., Handbook of Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America, Chantilly, VA 20151-1110, USA. http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/.