MINING ENGINEERING

BTECH

LAB MANUAL
MINING GEOLOGY
Kamre | Ratu Road | Ranchi | Jharkhand

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 LIST OF EXPERIMENTS

S.No. Name of the Experiment Page No.

1. To Study the geological maps 03-04
2. Mineralogy: Study of physical properties of Minerals. 05-12
3. Petrology: Study of common igneous rocks. 13-15
4. Petrology: Study of common sedimentary rocks. 16-17
5. Petrology : Study of common metamorphic rocks 18-21

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 EXPERIMENT NO.-1

OBJECT: To Study the geological maps.

THEORY:
Geologic maps are not like other maps. Geologic maps, like all maps, are designed to show where
things are. But, whereas the maps we know best show the distribution of roads or rivers or county
boundaries, a geologic map shows the distribution of geologic features, including different kinds
of rocks and faults. A geologic map is usually printed on top of a regular map (called a base map)
to help you locate yourself on the map. The base map is printed with light colors, so it doesn’t
interfere with seeing the geologic features on the map. The geology is represented by colors, lines,
and special symbols unique to geologic maps. Understanding these features will allow you to
understand much of the geology shown in almost any standard geologic map.

Significance of Colored Areas on Geological Maps-

The most striking features of geologic maps are its colors. Each color represents a
different geologic unit. A geologic unit is a volume of a certain kind of rock of a given age range.
So a sandstone of one age might be colored bright orange, while a sandstone of a different age
might be colored pale brown. Many geologic units are given names that relate to where their
characteristics are best displayed, or where they were first studied. For example, the Briones
sandstone was first described in Briones Valley,California. Some geologic units have not yet been
named, so those are identified with terms related to the kind of rock in the unit like 'Sandstone and
shale,' 'Unnamed sandstone', or 'Undivided shale'.
But all units, named and unnamed, have a color on the geologic map, and the area of a given color
is the area where that geologic unit is the one at the surface (usually the soil on top of the rocks is
disregarded). Geologic units are named and defined by the geologists who made the geologic map,
based on their observations of the kinds of rocks and their investigations of the age of the rocks.
As more information is gathered, perhaps by other geologists, new geologic units might be defined.
These disagreements can be a basis for scientific progress, and illustrate the need for continuing
to investigate the geology of an area.

Letter Symbols
In addition to color, each geologic unit is assigned a set of letters to symbolize it on the map.
Usually the symbol is the combination of an initial capital letter followed by one or more small
letters. The capital letter represents the age of the geologic unit. Geologists have divided the history
of the Earth into Eons (the largest division), Eras, Periods, and Epochs , mostly based on
the fossils found in rocks. The most common division of time used in letter symbols on geologic
maps is the Period. Rocks of the four most recent Periods are found in the San Francisco Bay area
shown on this map, so most letter symbols begin with a capital letter representing one of the four
Periods: J (Jurassic - 195 to 141 million years ago), K (Cretaceous - 141 to 65 million years ago),
T (Tertiary - 65 to 2 million years ago), or Q (Quaternary - 2 million years ago until today).
Occasionally the age of a rock unit will span more than one period, if the period of many
years required to create a body of rock happens to fall on both sides of a time boundary. In that
case both capital letters are used. For example, QT would indicate that the rock unit began to form
in Tertiary time and was completed in Quaternary time. The few geologic units formed an
unknown amount of time ago have letter symbols with no capital letters. The small letters indicate

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either the name of the unit, if it has one, or the type of rock, if the unit has no name. So Kjm (see
1 on map above) would be the symbol for the Joaquin Miller sandstone (formed in the Cretaceous
Period), while Ks (location 2) would be the symbol for an unnamed unit of shale formed in the
same Period, and gb (location 3) would be the symbol for gabbro (a dark-colored igneous rock )
of unknown age.

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 EXPERIMENT NO.-2

OBJECT: MINERALOGY-To Study the physical properties of common rock forming minerals.

THEORY: A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid substance that is characterized with
a definite chemical composition and very often with a definite atomic structure.

Mineralogy is that branch of geology which deals with various aspects related to minerals such as
their individual properties, their mode of formation and mode of occurrence.
Minerals can be described by various physical properties which relate to their chemical structure
and composition. Common distinguishing characteristics include crystal structure and habit,
hardness, lustre, diaphaneity, colour, streak, tenacity, cleavage, fracture, parting, and specific
gravity. More specific tests for minerals include reaction to acid, magnetism, taste or smell, and
radioactivity.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS:

Minerals can be only identified absolutely by x-ray analysis and chemical tests. The x-ray analysis
determines the structure of the mineral and the chemical tests determine the composition of the
mineral. Structure and composition are the defining marks of a mineral. Unfortunately for the
average collector, these tests require expensive equipment, expert know-how and often destroy the
specimen. Fortunately, both structure and composition affect certain physical properties. It is
through the proper use of these properties that minerals can reliably be identified. The best physical
property is one that will give a unique result for a mineral and will always give the same result,
again and again, for any and every specimen of that mineral.

1. COLOUR
Colour is one of the most obvious characteristic of a mineral, but generally not the most
useful diagnostic feature. Depending on impurities, individual mineral types may come in
a vast variety of colours. For example, ruby and sapphire are differently coloured types of
the mineral corundum (Al2O3). The red colour of ruby is due to the presence of the element
chromium. Sapphires may come is a vast variety of colours; blue is the most familiar
colour, but yellow, orange, green, pink, orange and brown varieties are also known. Garnets
may also come in a large range of colours, depending on their composition. They can be
found with virtually any colour, although blue garnets are exceptionally rare. It is therefore
advisable not to rely on colour alone to identify a mineral.

2. CRYSTAL HABIT
Crystal habit refers to the characteristic shape of a mineral unit (either an individual crystal or
an aggregate of crystals). Crystals with well-developed faces are referred to as“euhedral”;
for example garnet crystals are often euhedral. Minerals may also occur as aggregates of
crystals; for example, asbestos is usually found as an aggregate of very fine fibers. The

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 following list gives examples of different crystal habits and examples of common minerals
that may exhibit each habit.
Cubic - cube shapes
Octahedral - shaped like octahedrons, as described above.
Tabular - rectangular shapes.
Equant - a term used to describe minerals that have all of their boundaries of approximately
equal length.
Acicular - long, slender crystals.
Prismatic - abundance of prism faces.
Bladed - like a wedge or knife blade.

3. STREAK

The streak of a mineral refers to the colour of the mark it leaves behind after being rubbed against
a piece of unglazed porcelain. Streak is the color produced by a fine powder of the mineral when
scratched on a streak plate. Hematite provides a good example of how streak works. While this
mineral is usually black, silver or brown-red in hand sample, its streak is always a dark blood-red.
Chalcopyrite is usually golden-brown in hand sample, but has a green-black streak. Streak can be
used only for minerals with a Mohs hardness of 7 or less, as minerals with a hardness greater than
7 will themselves scratch the streak plate.

4. LUSTRE

Lustre refers to the way in which the surface of a mineral reflects light, and is controlled by the
kinds of atoms present and their bonding. It is described by the following terms

1. Metallic - looks shiny like a metal. Usually opaque and gives black or dark colored streak.
2. Non-metallic - Non metallic lusters are referred to as

a. vitreous - looks glassy - examples: clear quartz, tourmaline

b. resinous - looks resinous - examples: sphalerite, sulfur.
c. pearly - iridescent pearl-like - example: apophyllite.
d. greasy - appears to be covered with a thin layer of oil - example: nepheline.
e. silky - looks fibrous. - examples - some gypsum, serpentine, malachite.
f. adamantine - brilliant luster like diamond.

5. CLEAVAGE

Minerals are composed of atoms, which, for each mineral, have a characteristic arrangement.
Weaknesses in the chemical bonds between these atoms cause planes of weakness in the crystal
structure. Cleavage is an indication of how well mineral breaks along these planes of weakness,
and may be a good diagnostic characteristic. Cleavage may be described as “perfect”, ”good”,

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“distinct” or ”poor”. In transparent minerals or in thin sections viewed though a microscope,
cleavage may be seen as a series of parallel lines.

The number of cleavage planes in a mineral may also aid its identification. Cleavage typically
occurs in either one, two, three, four or six directions. Micas easily split along their one plane of
cleavage to form thin sheets. Amphiboles exhibit two cleavage planes. Iceland spar, a variety of
calcite, cleaves readily along three planes of weakness into distinctive rhombs. Galena breaks
along three cleavage planes producing cubic fractions. Fluorite and diamond show cleavage in four
directions. Sphalerite exhibits cleavage in six directions. Not every mineral displays cleavage. For
example, quartz does not have a weakness in its crystal structure, and therefore does not exhibit
cleavage. When a quartz specimen is broken with a hammer, it displays conchoidal (shell-like)
fracture.

6. FRACTURE

If the mineral contains no planes of weakness, it will break along random directions called fracture.
Several different kinds of fracture patterns are observed.
- breaks along smooth curved surfaces.
- similar to the way wood breaks.
- jagged fractures with sharp edges.
- rough irregular surfaces.

7. HARDNESS

Hardness is determined by scratching the mineral with a mineral or substance of known

Hardness. Hardness is a relative scale, thus to determine a mineral's hardness, you must determine
that a substance with a hardness greater than the mineral does indeed scratch the unknown mineral,
and that the unknown mineral scratches a known mineral of lesser hardness.
Hardness is determined on the basis of Moh's relative scale of hardness exhibited by some common
minerals. These minerals are listed below, along with the hardness of some common objects.

Hardness Mineral Common Objects

1 Talc
2 Gypsum Fingernail (2+)
3 Calcite Copper Penny (3+)
4 Fluorite
5 Apatite Steel knife blade (5+),
6 Orthoclase Steel file
7 Quartz
8 Topaz
9 Corundum
10 Diamond

8. TENACITY
Tenacity is the resistance of a mineral to breaking, crushing, or bending. Tenacity can be described
by the following terms.
Brittle - Breaks or powders easily.
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 Malleable - can be hammered into thin sheets.
Sectile - can be cut into thin shavings with a knife.
Ductile - bends easily and does not return to its original shape.
Flexible - bends somewhat and does not return to its original shape. Elastic - bends but does
return to its original shape.

9. DENSITY (SPECIFIC GRAVITY)

Density refers to the mass per unit volume. Specific Gravity is the relative density, (weight of
substance divided by the weight of an equal volume of water). In cgs units density is grams per
cm3, and since water has a density of 1 g/cm3, specific gravity would have the same numerical
value has density, but no units (units would cancel). Specific gravity is often a very diagnostic
property for those minerals that have high specific gravities.

10. MAGNETISM

Magnetic minerals result from properties that are specific to a number of elements. Minerals that
do not have these elements, and thus have no magnetism are called diamagnetic. Examples of
diamagnetic minerals are quartz, plagioclase, calcite, and apatite. Elements like Ti, Cr, V, Mn, Fe,
Co, Ni, and Cu can sometimes result in magnetism. Minerals that contain these elements may be
weakly magnetic and can be separated from each other by their various degrees of magnetic
susceptibility. These are called paramagnetic minerals.

Study of physical properties of various minerals:

FELDSPAR
1. Form : Tabular
2. Colour : Pale Pink
3. Streak : White
4. Luster : Vitreous
5. Fracture : Uneven
6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 7
9. Specific Gravity : 2.5
10. Occurrence : Adilabad
11. Origin : Igneous
12. Uses : Tiles
13. Name of the Specimen : Feldspar
14. Chemical Composition : KAI Si308
QUARTZ
1. FORM : Amorphous
2. Colour : White
3. Streak : Colourless
4. Luster : Vitreous
5. Fracture : Uneven
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 6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 7
9. Specific Gravity : 3
10. Name of the Specimen : Quartz
11. Occurrence : South India
12. Origin : Igneous
13. Uses : Used as gemstone and in watch industries etc
14. Chemical Composition : Sio2

TALC
1. Form : Amorphous
2. Colour : White
3. Streak : White
4. Luster : earthy
5. Fracture : No
6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 1
9. Specific : 2.5
10. Name of the Specimen: Talc
11. Occurrence : Udaipur, Rajasthan
12. Uses : It is used as talcum powder and in creams etc.
13. Chemical Composition: Mg3 Si4 O10 (OH)2
CALCITE
1. Form : Bladed
2. Colour : Honey Yellow
3. Streak : White
4. Lustre : Vitrous
5. Fracture : Uneven
6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 5
9. Specific : 2.5 to 3
10. Name of the Specimen: Calcite
11. Occurrence : Tamil Nadu
12. Uses : Bombs, gun powders, anti – air craft
13. Chemical Composition: Caco 3

PYRITE
1. Form : Crystalline
2. Colour : Fool’s gold
3. Streak : Black
4. Luster : Metallic to sub - metallic
5. Fracture : Uneven
6. Cleavage Absent
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 7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 6
9. Specific : 3 to 4 5
10. Name of the Specimen: Pyrite
11. Occurrence : Cuddapah, Andhra Pradesh
12. Uses : Paints, Paper industries
13. Chemical Composition: FeS2

HAEMETITE
1. Form : Amorphous
2. Colour : Dark brown
3. Streak : Brown
4. Luster : Metallic
5. Fracture : Absent
6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 7
9. Specific : 6 to 7
10. Name of the Specimen: Hematite
11. Occurrence : Goa
12. Uses : Steel, and iron industries
13. Chemical Composition: Fe2O3

MEGNETITE
1. Form : Amorphous
2. Colour : Gray
3. Streak : Brown
4. Lustre : Greasy
5. Fracture : Absent
6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 7
9. Specific : 5.5
10. Name of the Specimen : Magnetite
11. Occurrence : Goa, Maharashtra
12. Uses : Iron ore
13. Chemical Composition : Fe3 O4

CHROMITE
1. Form : Amorphous
2. Colour : Black
3. Streak : Black
4. Lustre : Earthy
5. Fracture : Absent
6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 7
9. Specific : 4.5
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 10. Name of the Specimen : Chromite
11. Occurrence : Karnataka
12. Uses : Paints, Cr ore
13. Chemical Composition : Fe Cr 2 O4

GALENA
1. Form : Tabular
2. Colour : Gray and black
3. Streak : Black
4. Lustre : Vitrous
5. Fracture : Even
6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 6
9. Specific : 5.5
10. Name of the Specimen : Galena
11. Occurrence : Maharashtra
12. Uses : Ornamental and atomic purposes
13. Chemical Composition : Pbs

PYROLUSITE
1. Form : Amorphous
2. Colour : Black
3. Streak : Black
4. Lustre : Earthy
5. Fracture : Absent
6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 7
9. Specific : 6
10. Name of the Specimen : Pyrolusite
11. Occurrence : Adilabad, Vizayanagaram
12. Uses : Maganese ore (steel industries)
13. Chemical Composition : Mno 2

GRAPHITE
1. Form : Amorphous
2. Colour : Gray
3. Streak : Gray
4. Lustre : Sub-Metallic or greasy
5. Fracture : Absent
6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 4
9. Specific : 2.5 to 2.8
10. Name of the Specimen : Graphite
11. Occurrence : Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh
12. Uses : Pencils
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 13. Chemical Composition : C

BAUXITE
1. Form : Concretionary
2. Colour : Reddish Brown
3. Streak : Brown
4. Lustre : Earthy
5. Fracture : Uneven
6. Cleavage : Absent
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 7
9. Specific : 3
10. Name of the Specimen : Bauxite
11. Occurrence : Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam
12. Uses : Aluminum ore
13. Chemical Composition : Al

CHALCOPYRITE
1. Form : Tetrahedron,
2. Colour : Brass yellow
3. Streak : Greenish black
4. Lustre : Metallic
5. Fracture : Irregular to uneven
6. Cleavage : Indistinct
7. Diaphaneity : Opaque
8. Hardness : 3.5
9. Specific : 4.1-4.3
10. Name of the Specimen : Chalcopyrite
11. Chemical Composition : CuFeS2

EXPERIMENT NO 3

OBJECT: PETROLOGY-Study of common igneous rocks.

THEORY:
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• Different type s of Igenous rocks (volcanic, Hypabasal and plutonic rocks).
• Main factors used in the classification of igneous rocks.
• Order of crytallisation in which minerals are formed.
• Petrogenesis.

PEGMATITE

I Petrography
1. Colour index : Leucocratic (light colour)
2. Mineralogy : a) Essential minerals : Quartz, Feldspars,
b) Accessory minerals: Bery1, tourmaline, apatite
3. Texture : Very coarse grained granular
4. Structure : Pegmatitic

II Petrogenesis
1. Mode of formation : Veins and dykes.
2. Depth of formation : Great depth
3. Conditions of formation : Plutonic conditions ( high pressure and high temperature)
4. Name of the rock : Pegmatite.

GRANITES
Granites are of two types, based on their coulour (a) pink granite, in which the Kfeldspars are more
predominant than the plagioclase feldspars. (b) Grey granite, in which the lagioclase feldspars are
more predominant than the k-feldspars. They exhibit two distinct types of
a) Equigranular
b) Inequigranular (porphyritic).
They are the most abundant rock types among other igneous rocks. In hand specimen, granite is a
light colored coarse grained granular rock. It is mainly composed of quartz, feldspars, and micas.
Apatite, magnetite, zircon and sphene are found as accessories. The coarse grained texture
indicates that the rock is formed under the plutonic conditions.
The systematic description of the granular granite is given in a new format below.

I. Petrography
1. Colour index Leucocratic
2. Mineralogy
a) essential minerals : quartz, alkalifeldspar and micas
b) accessory : apatite, magnetite, zircon, sphene,
Hornblende and pyroxene.
3. Texture : Coarse grained, equigranular.

II. Petrogenesis
1. Mode of formation : Big batholiths to small plutonic
2. Depth of formation : Great depth (deep seated)
3. Conditions of formation : Plutonic conditions (high pressure and high
temperature).
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4. Name of the rock : Granite

PORPHYRITIC GRANITE

I. Petrography
1. Colour Index : leucocratic
2. Mineralogy : quartz, alkali feldspars, and micas.
a) Essential minerals : apatite, zircon, magnetite, sphene,
Hornblende and pyroxene.
b) Accessory minerals : Coarse grained in equigranular
3. Texure : Coarse grained in equigranular
4. Structure : Porphyritic

II. Petrogenesis
1. Mode of formation : Big batholiths to small plution
2. Depth of formation : Great to intermediate depth
3. Conditions of formation : Plutonic conditions (high pressure and
High temperature.
4. Name of the rock : Porphyritic granite

DOLERITE
Dolerite is a dark coloured medium grained granular rock. It is mainly composed
of labradorite plagioclase feldspar and augite pyroxene. Magnetite, apatite and
sphene are found as accessories. The medium grained texture indicates that the
rock is formed under hypabyssal conditions.
The systems description of the rock is given in a new formal below;

I. Petrography
1. Colour index : Melanocratic
2. Mineralogy :
a) Essential minerals : Labradorite plagioclase and augite pyroxene.
b)Accessory minerals : Magnetite, olivine, apatite and sphene.
3. Texture : Medium grained.

II. Petrogenesis
1. Mode of formation : Dykes
2. Depth of formation : Intermediate (shallow depth)
3. Conditions of formation : Hypabyssal conditions (moderate)pressure and
temperature)
4. Name of the rock : Dolerite.
BASALT
Basalt is a dark-ash coloured fine grained rock. It is mainly composed of labradorite
Plagioclase augite pyroxene. Magnetite, olivine and apatite are found as accessories. Quartz,
calcite and zeolities are found as secondary minerals in cavities and vesicles of the rock. The fine
grained texture indicates that the rock is formed under volcanic conditions. The systematic
description of the rock is given in a new format below.

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I. Petrography
1. Colour index : Melnocratic
2. Mineralogy :
a)Essential minerls : labradorite plagioclase and augite pyroxene
b)Accessory minerals : olivine. Hornblende, magnetite and apatite.
3. Texture : Fine grained
4. Structure : Vesicular and amygdaloidal
II. Petrogeneis
1. Mode of formation : Sills, flows, and dykes
2. Depth of formation : Surface intrusive and extrusives
3. Conditions of formation : Volcanic conditions
(low pressure and temperature)
4. Conditions of formation : Basalt

EXPERIMENT NO 4

OBJECT: Study of common sedimentary rocks.

THEORY: Description of sedimentary rocks

• Identify the sedimentary rocks

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• Recognize the minerals of sedimentary rocks
• Describe the textures & formation of sedimentary rocks.

1. CONGLOMERATE
It is a common rudaceous rock formed under continental environment. It is mainly consolidated
with rounded and subrounded pebbles and gravels. These pebbles and gravels are made up of
quartz, feldspars and rock fragments. Ferrugeneous and siliceous cementing materials envelop the
pebbles and gravels. In handspecimen, the rock is easily distinguished from breccias by its
characteristic rounded pebbles and gravels.

The systematic description of the rock is given below.

1. Clastic /Nonclastic : Clastic
2. Colour : shades of grey, brown
3. Mineralogy : Quartz feldspars, clay, hematite and limonite (goethite)
4. Structure : Rounded rudite
5. Texture
(a) Grain size : Coarse grained
(b) Grain shape : Rounded to subrounded
(c) Sorting : Poorly sorted
6. Nature of matric : Ferrugeneous and siliceous
7. Name : Conglomerate

2. SANDSTONE
It is most common clastic rock founded in basinal environments such as river,
lakes and marginal seas. It is formed due to consolidation of sand particles. The sand
particles are mainly made up of rounded quartz grains. In handspecimen, it is in
brown or yellow or grey or buff colour, and exhibits medium grained texture.
Sometimes sizegrading and rippling features are seen in it. Well sorting of grains is a characteristic
feature of many sandstones. If a sandstone is completely composed of quartz, it is termed as
arthoquarzite. If a sandstone contines 75% of quartz and 25% of feldspar, it terms as arkose. If a
sandstone has more than 30% of matrix of clay, chlorite and glauconite, it terme as greywacks. A
fine grained greywake (sandstone) terms into shale.

The systematic description of the ripple sandstone is given below:

1. Clastic / Nonclastic : Clastic
2. Colour : Brown or yellow or greyor buff
3. Mineralogy : Quartz with little amount of feldspar and
Siliceous or ferrugeneous clays
4. Structure : Ripple marks, arenite
5. Texture :
a) Grain size : Medium grained
b)Grain shape : Rounded to subrounded
c)Sorting : Well sorted
6. Nature of matrix : Siliceous or ferrugeneous or both
7. Name of the rock : Ripple sandstone

3. SHALE
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It is a fine grained argillaceous sedimentary rock that have been formed by the
consolidation of beds of mud, clay or silt. The mud and clay are in chlorite, muscovite nd quartz.
In hand specimen, it has varied colours like grey, brown black or yellow and exhibits fine grained
texure and thin layering.

The systems description of the rock is given below:

1. Clastic / Nonclastic : clastic
2. Colour : Grey brown or black
3. Mineralogy : Chlorite muscovite, kaolin, and quartz.
4. Structure : Thin layering
5. Texture:
a)Grain size : Fine grained
b)Grain shape : Variable
c)Sorting : Poorly sorted
6. Nature of matrix : Ferrugeneous or siliceous
7. Name of the rock : Shale

4. LIMESTONE

It is a fine grained non clastic sedimentary rock that has been formed by the precipitation of
calcium carbonate solutions which are derived from seawater. In hand specimen. It looks greyand
exhibits fine grained texture. It is made up of mainly calcite. There are many varieties of limestone.
It is a limestone is porous with full of foramineral shells, it terms as chalk. If a limestone contains
shells of brachiopods or Lamellibranchs, it terms as shelly limestone. If a limestone contains high
volums percentage of dolomite, it grades into dolomite.

The systematic description of a normal limestone as given below:

1. Clastic / Nonclastic : Non clastic
2. Colour : Grey
3. Mineralogy : Calcite (Ca C03)
4. Structure : layering
5. Texture: a) Grainsize : fine grained
b) Grainshape : variable
6. Nature of matrix : Calcareous
7. Name of the rock : Limestone

EXPERIMENT NO 5

OBJECT: Study of common metamorphic rocks.

THEORY:
• Describe the different types of metamorphic rocks
• Describe the mineralogy of different types of rocks

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 1. SLATE

Slate is a fine grained lowgrade regional metamorphism rock; which is transformed from
shale by regional metamorphism. It is characterized by slaty cleavage, along which it splits into
thin sheets or layers. State is variable in its colour from grey to black Systematic description of the
rock is given below.

1. Colour : Variable (grey yellow green brown or black)

2. Mineralogy : Muscovite, chlorite, feldspar, quartz
3. Structure : Sheet or layers with slaty cleavage
4. Type of metamorphism : Regional metamorphism
5. Conditions of metamorphism : Low pressure and low tempera ture
6. Nature of parent rock : Pelitic (shale)
7. Name of the rock : Slate

2. MARBLE

Marble is either contact (thermal) or regional metamorphic rock transformed from a

metamorphosed limestone. It is a coarse grained granular rock commonly exhibits white colour
(but some marbles may be in different colours due to impurities). Its colour, texture, soft and
smooth surfaces promote the rock into commercial grade in building industry.
Systematic description of the rock is given below:

1. Colour : White (rarely pink, shades of green etc)

2. Mineralogy : Calcite
3. Structure : Beds with sacchardial form
4. Type of metamorphism : Contact (thermal) metamorphism
5. Conditions of metamorphism : High temperature and low pressure
6. Nature of parent rock : Limestone
7. Name of the rock : Marble

3. QUARZITE

It is a metamorphosed sandstone formed under either contact or regional metamorphism. In hand

specimen, it is rather earthy white to brown in colour and exhibits granular form. It is mainly
composed of recrystallized quartz. Its colour. Texture, hard and toughness promote the rock into
commercial grade in building industry.
Systematic description of the rock is given below:

1. Colour : Variable (shades of white to brown

2. Mineralogy : Quartz
3. Structure : Beds with granular form
4. Type of metamorphism : Contact metamorphism
5. Conditions of metamorphism : High temperature and low pressure
6. Nature of parent rock : Sandstone
7. Name of the rock : Quartz

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4. SCHISTS

Schists of many kinds (or varieties) depending upon their colour and composition. All of them
have a unique character i.e. Schistosity or foliation. They are common rock type of the Precambrian
terrains. In hand specimen they are coarse grained rocks and are in different shades of colours from
dark green to brown and also exhibit characteristic foliation. They are mainly composed of
phyllosilicates and double chain silicates.
They are derived from either sedimentary or igneous rocks by the regional metamorphism. One of
the schists (brown biotite schist) is describe d in a systematic way for the clear
understanding to the student.

1. Colour : Dark brown

2. Mineralogy : Brown bioite, garnet, quartz
3. Structure : Schistose or foliation
4. Type of metamorphism : Medium grade regional metamorphism
5. Conditions of metamorphism : Moderate pressure and temperature
6. Nature of parent rock : Pelitic (shale)
7. Name of the rock : Garnet biotite schist.

5. GNEISSES

Gneisses are of many kinds (or varieties) depending upon their colour and composition.
All of them have a unique character i.e. gneissosity or banding (or lineation). They are common
on rock types of the Precambrian terrains. In handspecimen, they are coarse grained rocks with
alternate dark and white (light) bands. Each band its own colour and composition. Generally, the
white bands is mainly composed of felsic minerals such as quartz and feldspars, while dark band
is rich in mafic minerals, such as puroxenes, amphiboles, epidotes, garnets and biotite micas. They
are derived from either sedimentary or igneous rocks by high grade regional metamorphism.
One of the gneisses (quartzofeldspathic gneiss) is described in a systematic way for the clear
understanding to the students.

1. Colour : Shades of grayish whits

2. Mineralogy : Quartz, feldspar, biotite, hornblende
3. Structure : Gneissose or banding (felsic and mfic bands)
4. Type of metamorphism : High grade regional metamorphism
5. Conditions of metamorphism : Moderte pressure and high temperature
6. Nature of parent rock : Granite
7. Name of the rock : Quartzo-feldspathic gneiss (peninsular geniss)

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 IGNEOUS ROCKS
Name Formula H Color Fracture/Cleava Other Diagnostic
ge Properties
colorless, glassy, hexagonal crystal
Quartz SiO2 7 concoidal
white, gray form is
fracture
distinctive when present
Potassium white, pink, 2 directions at exsolution lamellae
KAlSi3O8 6
Feldspar buff gray about present in some
(Orthoclase) 90° samples
felsic

white, pink,
NaAlSi3O8 2 directions at polysynthetic (albite)
Plagioclase 6 gray, dk
CaAl2Si2O8 about twinning on
Feldspar gray
90° best cleavage
surfaces
1 direction
Muscovite KAl2AlSi3O10(OH)2 2-2.5 colorless color is distinctive
perfect
(mica)
cleavage
1 direction
Biotite (mica) K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(OH)2 2-2.5 black color is distinctive
perfect
cleavage
dk green, 2 good cleavages elongate crystals, better
Amphibole Ca 2(Mg,Fe)4Al[AlSi7O22](OH)2 5-6
black at cleavage than
(hornblende)
mafic

about 120° pyroxene.

Ca(Mg,Fe)Si 2O6 green, gray 2 poor cleavages
Pyroxene 5-6 poor cleavage, stubby
(Mg,Fe)2Si2O6 green, white at
crystals
about 90°
green,
Olivine (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 6.5-7 concoidal glassy, color usually
yellow
fracture distinctive
green

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Name Formula H Color Fracture/Cleavage Other Diagnostic
Properties
colorless, glassy, hexagonal
Quartz SiO2 7 concoidal fracture
white, gray crystal form is
distinctive when present
colorless, rhombic cleavage
Calcite CaCO 3 3 3 directions not at
white fragments,
90°
reacts
(fizzes) with
HCl.
reacts (fizzes) less
white, gray,
Dolomite CaMg(CO 3)2 3.5-4 3 directions not at vigorously with HCl
pink
90° (compared to calcite) or
only when powdered
1 direction perfect
Kaolinite Al2Si2O5(OH)4 2 white sticks to tongue
cleavage
red, dk red,
weak parting, red streak, specular
Hematite Fe2O3 2-6 metallic
typically not hematite
gray
expressed shows bright
gray metallic
luster
Limonite FeO•OH•nH2O 3.5-4 yellow red n.a. yellow-red streak
Halite NaCl 2.5 colorless 3 directions at 90° salty taste, cubic
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 cleavage fragments
colorless, 1 good and 2 poor
Gypsum CaSO 4•2H2O 2 simple twins common in
white cleavages
crystals

METAMORPHIC ROCKS

Name Formula H Color Fracture/Cleavage Other Diagnostic

Properties
1 direction perfect
Talc Mg3Si4O10(O 1 white greasy feel
cleavage
H)2
1 direction perfect
Chlorite Mg5Al2Si3O1 2-2.5 green color is distinctive
cleavage
0(OH) 8
red, pink,
Garnet (Fe,Mg,Ca)3 6.5-7.5 concoidal fracture dodecahedron form
green, black
Al2Si3O12 common in crystals
Sky blue to white,
Stubby blades. The long
also grey, green, 1 perfect and 1 good
Kyanite Al2SiO5 5.5-7 direction of cleavage planes
black direction cleavage
can be scratched with a
knife; the perpendicular
cannot.
Colorless to Small fibers or needles with
Sillimanite Al2SiO5 6.5-7.5 1 good cleavage
white cleavage
perpendicular to long axis.
1 direction good
Rod shaped with almost
Andalusite Al2SiO5 6.5-7.5 Usually pink 1 direction poor
square cross-
cleavage
sections. Chiastolite
cross.
Interpenetration twins
Staurolite (Fe,Mg)2Al9 7 brown 1 direction poor
common, elongate
Si4O22(OH)2
crystals
black, weak parting, typically
Magnetite* Fe3O4 5.5-6.5 magnetic
metallic not expressed

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