Running head: Field Trip Report 1

Introduction to Geology: Field Trip Report

Alicia Duran
Location Visited:
Utah Natural History museum
Date Visited: November 3rd, 2018
FIELD TRIP REPORT 2

Calcite

This calcite was obtained from Pachapaqui, Peru. Calcite is a rock-forming mineral with
a chemical formula if CaCO3. It has a hardness of three, it is usually colorless, but nuances in
blue, yellow, green, red, violet, even black and opaque, with a white-to-gray streak. Additionally,
this mineral is extremely common and found throughout the world in sedimentary, metamorphic,
and igneous rocks. Calcite is the principal constituent of limestone and marble. The properties of calcite
make it one of the most widely used minerals. It is used as a construction material, abrasive, agricultural
soil treatment, construction aggregate, pigment, pharmaceutical and more. It has more uses than almost
any other mineral.

Moreover, Calcite may for as an undesirable coating on top of another mineral. The
Calcite can be easily burned off by soaking it in hydrochloric acid, which will cause it to
effervesce and eventually dissolve; leaving the mineral below exposed. Calcite is the only
common non-silicate rock forming mineral, being instead calcium carbonate. It has two
refractive indices causing a significant double refraction effect.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 3

Quartz

This Quartz was obtained from the Deep Creek Mountains in Juab County, Utah. Quartz
is one of the most common minerals in the Earth’s crust. As a mineral name, quartz refers to a
specific chemical compound (silicon dioxide, or silica, SiO2), having a specific crystalline form
(hexagonal). It is found is all forms of rock: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. Quartz is
physically and chemically resistant to weathering. When quartz-bearing rocks become weathered
and eroded, the grains of resistant quartz are concentrated in the soil, in rivers, and on beaches.
The white sands typically found in river beds and on beaches are usually composed mainly of
quartz, with some white or pink feldspar as well.

Quartz crystal is one of several minerals which are piezoelectric, meaning that when
pressure is applied to quartz, a positive electrical charge is created at one end of the crystal and a
negative electrical charge is created at the other. These properties make quartz valuable in
electronics applications. Electronics-grade manufactured quartz is used in a large number of
circuits for consumer electronics products such as computers, cell phones, televisions, etc.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 4

Gypsum

Gypsum is a mineral found in crystal as well as masses called gypsum rock. It is a very
soft mineral and it can form very pretty, and sometimes extremely large colored
crystals. Massive gypsum rock forms within layers of sedimentary rock, typically found in thick
beds or layers. It forms in lagoons where ocean waters high in calcium and sulfate content can
slowly evaporate and be regularly replenished with new sources of water. The result is the
accumulation of large beds of sedimentary gypsum. Gypsum is commonly associated with rock
salt and sulfur deposits. It is processed and used as prefabricated wallboard or as industrial or
building plaster, used in cement manufacture, agriculture and other uses.

The most significant use for gypsum is for wallboard and plaster products. Some gypsum
is used to make Portland cement, and some is used in agricultural applications. A small amount
of very pure gypsum is used in glass-making and other specialized industrial applications.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 5

Rhodonite

This Rhodonite was obtained from the Sussex County in New Jersey. Rhodonite is a pink
manganese silicate mineral of variable composition that often contains significant amounts of
iron, magnesium, and calcium. It has a generalized chemical composition of
(Mn,Fe,Mg,Ca)SiO3. Rhodonite is often associated with black manganese oxides which may
occur as dendrites, fracture-fillings, or matrix within the specimen. Other names for rhodonite
include "manganese spar" and "manganolite". Rhodonite is usually found in metamorphic rocks
associated with other manganese minerals. It is also found in rocks that have been altered by
contact metamorphism, hydrothermal and metasomatic processes. It is usually massive to
granular in occurrence. Rarely, it is found as red triclinic crystals. Rhodonite's diagnostic
properties are its pink to red color, hardness, high specific gravity, perfect cleavage, and its close
association with black manganese oxides

Rhodonite is an uncommon mineral. It is found in a few small deposits across the world. Sources
of rhodonite include: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, India, Peru, and Russia.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 6

Pyrite

This Pyrite was obtained from Ambasaguas in La Roja, Spain. Pyrite is a brass-
yellow mineral with a bright metallic luster. It has a chemical composition of iron sulfide
(FeS2) and is the most common sulfide mineral. It forms at high and low temperatures and
occurs, usually in small quantities, in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks worldwide.
Pyrite is so common that many geologists would consider it to be a ubiquitous mineral. Its name
was given because pyrite can be used to create the sparks needed for starting a fire if it is struck
against metal or another hard material.

Pyrite has a nickname that has become famous "Fool's Gold." The mineral's gold color,
metallic luster, and high specific gravity often cause it to be mistaken for gold by inexperienced
prospectors. Additionally, Pyrite is used to create iron sulfate that is used to make nutritional
supplements, ink, lawn conditioner, water treatment and flocculation, moss killer, and many
other chemical processes. Iron sulfate which comes from pyrite is used to treat iron-deficiency
anemia.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 7

Microcline

This Microcline was obtained from Pikes Peak region in El Paso County, Colorado.
Microcline is a common, but not a well-known mineral and has been used as a semi-precious
stone under the names of Amazonite and Perthite. Amazonite is a variety that is deep green and
is suitable for carving and polishing. The perthite variety is a stripped, veined or almost zebra
patterned stone, that is produced from lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These
intergrowths result from compatible chemistries at high temperatures becoming incompatible at
lower temperatures and thus a separating and layering of these two phases. The colored stripes
are microcline and the white or clear stripes are plagioclase feldspars. If there is more plagioclase
than microcline it is called "antiperthite".

Microcline is a polymorph of other minerals that share the same chemistry but have
different crystal structures. If positive identification cannot be made by field methods, then the
specimen may be referred to as a potassium feldspar or K-spar.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 8

Fluorapatite

This Fluorapatite was obtained from Wakefield in Quebec, Canada. Fluorapatite is a

common phosphate mineral and a calcium fluoride phosphate, Ca5(PO4)3F. It occurs as minute,
often green, glassy crystals in many igneous rocks, and also in magnetite deposits, high-
temperature hydrothermal veins, and metamorphic rocks; it also occurs as collophane in marine
deposits.

Fluorapatite is a common mineral that can be found as fine crystals in Germany, Austria,
Portugal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Russia. As a
mineral is the most common phosphate mineral. It occurs widely as an accessory mineral in
igneous rocks and in calcium rich metamorphic rocks. It commonly occurs as a detrital or
diagenic mineral in sedimentary rocks and is an essential component of phosphorite ore deposits.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 9

Grossular

This Grossular was obtained from Sierra de la Crux in Coahuila, Mexico. Grossular is
a calcium-aluminum species of the garnet group of minerals. It has the chemical formula of
Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 but the calcium may, in part, be replaced by ferrous iron and the aluminum by
ferric iron. Its hardness can be anywhere between six point five, and seven point five. The name
grossular is derived from the botanical name for the gooseberry, grossularia, in reference to the
green garnet of this composition that is found in Siberia. Other shades include brown red, and
yellow; and its streak is a shade between brown and white. Grossular is found in contact
metamorphosed limestones.

Grossular can be cut into various gems, although it is not used as extensively as the other
Garnet forms; though it is not commonly seen in jewelry. It is also important to note that its
crystal form is cubic and that the green variant is very rare. Furthermore, this mineral does not
glow when heated.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 10

Azurite

This Azurite was obtained from the Bullion Beck Mine in Juab County, Utah. Azurite is
a copper carbonate mineral. The chemical formula is Cu3[OH CO3]2 and results from the
oxidation of copper sulfides. It is a deep blue color and is very soft. It is three point five to four
on the Mohs hardness scale. The crystals of this mineral can be tabular and prismatic and can be
a spectacular deep blue. The crystal form is not common, as it is most frequently seen as a
massive piece or in nodules.

Azurite weathers easily; as light, heat, and open air can all affect the color of this mineral.
Additionally, it reacts with oxygen to form malachite, and though it is not a major source of
copper it is a good indicator for the presence of copper ores. Large crystals have been found in
Tsumeb, Nambia, Touissit, Morocco, Chessy, France, and Guang Dong, and China. The deep
color of this mineral has made it a popular pigment.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 11

Wolframite

This wolframite was obtained from Panasqueira, Portugal. Wolframite is

an iron manganese tungstate mineral with a chemical formula (Fe,Mn)WO4. This mineral is a
brown to black with a metallic to adamantine luster. It is also a mineral consisting of a
tungstate of iron and manganese occurring especially in monoclinic crystals. Moreover, it is
used as a source of tungsten, a strong and quite dense material with a high melting
temperature used for electric filaments and armor-piercing ammunition, as well as hard tungsten
carbide machine tools.

This mineral has a hardness between four and four point five, was historically found
in Europe in Bohemia, Saxony, and Cornwall. China reportedly has the world's largest supply of
tungsten ore with about 60%. Other producers are Canada, Portugal, Russia, Australia, Thailand,
and South Korea.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 12

Barite

This Barite was obtained from Elk Creek in Meade County, South Dakota. Barite is a
sulfate mineral with a chemical formula of BaSO4, sometimes called heavy spar. Its chemical
name is barium sulfate. It is the primary source of the element barium. It is soft, with only threen
point five on the Mohs scale and surprisingly heavy. Barium sulfate crystallizes in the
orthorhombic system in tabular or prismatic form. It can be white, yellow, blue, red, brown, and
clear. It has a white streak.

It is formed in hydrothermal veins often found with copper, silver, and lead ores. It is also
associated with limestone. This mineral has many uses, from the manufacture of paints, cooling
the bits in oil drilling operations, and because it is opaque to x-rays it has medical applications.
Lastly, Barite is widespread in occurrence.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 13

Beryl

This Beryl was obtained from the Wah Wah Mountains in Beaver County, Utah. Beryl is
a relatively rare silicate mineral with a chemical composition of Be3Al2Si6O18. Beryl is a mineral
that contains a significant amount of beryllium. Beryllium is a very rare metal, and that limits the
occurrence of beryl to a few geological situations where beryllium is present in sufficient
amounts to form minerals. It is found in igneous and metamorphic rocks in many parts of the
world. It mainly occurs in granite, rhyolite, and granite pegmatites; in metamorphic
rocks associated with pegmatites; and, in veins and cavities where hydrothermal activity is
associated with rocks of granitic composition. Beryl is also found where
carbonaceous shale, limestone, and marble have been acted upon by regional metamorphism.

This mineral has served as a minor ore of beryllium, and color varieties of the mineral are
among the world’s most popular gemstones. Emerald, aquamarine, heliodor, and morganite are
the most well-known varieties of beryl.
FIELD TRIP REPORT 14

References

Crystal Vaults. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2018, from https://www.crystalvaults.com/

Mineral Education Coalition. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2018, from

https://mineralseducationcoalition.org/

The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2018, from
https://www.minerals.net/