ROCK A: MARBIE THE MARBLE

Raw description – Marble is often pure white with a crystalline and sugary appearance. The
characteristic swirls and veins of many colored marble varieties are usually due to various mineral
impurities such as clay, silt, sand, or iron oxides (originally present as grains or layers in the limestone).
When split open, the visible crystals in marble gives it a characteristic granular surface and appearance.

Type of Rock – Marble (Metamorphic rock; Dolomitic marble)

Rock Identification – The group identified that the rock is mostly light colored and is made of crystal
grains with flat shiny surfaces, though it doesn’t have any layers. It cannot scratch glass, which means
that the rock is soft. (Though, marble is considered to be a strong, hard stone, even though its primary
mineral, calcite, only has a Mohs hardness of 3.)

Mineral Content – It is composed primarily of the mineral calcite (CaCO3) and usually contains other
minerals, such as clay minerals, micas, quartz, pyrite, iron oxides, and graphite.

Common Uses – Crushed marble is used to build roads, foundations of buildings, and railroad beds.
White marble is used to make "whiting," a powder used as a brightener and pigment. Powdered marble,
along with limestone, may be used as a calcium supplement for livestock. Crushed or powdered marble
is used in the chemical industry to neutralize acid and to remediate acid damage in water and soil.
Marble is also used in monuments, buildings, sculptures, paving, etc.

https://geology.com/rocks/marble.shtml
https://www.thoughtco.com/marble-rock-geology-properties-4169367
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble

ROCK B: SANDY THE SANDSTONE

Raw Description – It has a brownish-red color on its exterior. When split open, the interior has a lot of
layers of sand with some crystal grains. It is composed of rounded grains that are all of the same size. It
is relatively soft, making it easy to carve.

Type of Rock – Sandstone (Clastic sedimentary rock)

Rock Identification – The group identified that the rock doesn’t have that many crystal grains, though it
has layers. Then, using a steel nail, grains of sand was scraped off the rock.

Mineral Content – It is composed of primarily quartz, which consists of the physical properties such as
hardness and chemical stability, united by some cement (such as silica or calcium carbonate). Feldspar is
commonly the second most abundant mineral in sandstones.

Common Uses – Sandstone was a popular building material from the ancient times. It’s been used
around the world in constructing homes, temples and other buildings. It is also used for artistic purposes
to create fountains and statues. Some other kinds of sandstones, like Collyhurst sandstone, have been
used to repair and replacement in older buildings. Others are used to make grindstones for sharpening
blades.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandstone

ROCK C: LIMO THE LIMESTONE

Raw Description – Limestone’s color is usually white or gray, though the one that the group had is
redish-black in color due to impurities like clay, sand, organic remains, iron oxide and other materials. Its
texture is smooth and it is not composed of visible crystals. It was very easy to divide into smaller parts
using a hammer.

Type of Rock – Limestone (Chemical sedimentary rock)

Rock Identification – The group identified that there are no crystal grains, nor layers, gas bubbles or
black glass in/on the rock. They used a steel nail to see if sand can be scraped off the rock, though no
sand was pared off. This rock also cannot scratch glass.

Mineral Content – It is composed primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of the mineral
calcite. All limestones contain at least a few percent other materials like quartz, feldspar, clay minerals
and other minerals. It can also contain large nodules of chert, pyrite, or siderite.

Common Uses – Limestone is used for roadbeds, building and landscape construction, and cement
manufacture. It is very common to architecture and is still very frequently used on all types of buildings
and sculptures. It is readily available and relatively easy to cut into blocks or more elaborate carving. It is
also long-lasting and stands up well to exposure.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestone
https://graniteforus.com/limestone-characteristics
https://geology.com/rocks/limestone.shtml