S

c
r
a
t
c
h

G
l
a
s
s
S
o
f
t
e
r

T
h
a
n

G
l
a
s
s
R
e
a
c
t

W
i
t
h

D
i
l
u
t
e

H
C
l
D
O

N
O
T

R
e
a
c
t

W
i
t
h

A
c
i
d
Grains visible
or rock feels gritty
No grains , may feel
gritty or be glassy
Black, light weight
smudgy or shiney
White, pink, clear
crystalline, softer
than fingernail
Angular
Gravel Grains
Rounded
Gravel Grains
Grains distinct &
visible even under
amicroscope
Feels smooth; does not
scratch fingernail;
often layered
Conchoidal fracture glassy;
dull luster; many colors
Feels gritty but can't see
particles even with microscope;
scratches fingernail readily
Salty taste; three perfect
right angle cleavages;
clear, gray,
Softer than finger nail; pink or
white; fiberous thick plates,
or dense
Miniature spheres about 1mm
in diameter, like tiny pearls;
white, gray, blue-gray common
White, powdery
feels gritty; reacts vigorously
with acid
Fine grained; smooth, dense;
often conchoidal fracture, or
irregular blocky
Reacts with
dilute
hydrochloric
acid (HCl)
Abundant fossils
present, whole or
broken
Grains >
GRAVEL
Grains <
but still visible
Porous, light weight;
broken shell fragments;
tan to whitish
Finegrained martix
(micrite) with manyfossils
or fossil fragments
Must be powdered to react
with acid; dull luster; gray, tan
white, plus many other colors
Rock must be
powdered to react
with acid (HCl)
KEY TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF BASIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
BRECCIA
CONGLOM-
ERATE
SAND
STONE
SILT
STONE
CHERT
SHALE
COAL
ROCK SALT
(HALITE)
GYPSUM
FOSSIL
LIMESTONE
COQUINA
OOLITIC
LIMESTONE
CHALK
LIMESTONE
MICRITE
LIMESTONE
DOLOMITE
L.S. Fichter
August, 2000
http://geollab.jmu.edu/Fichter/SedRx/index.html