Contents
Roselle M. Girard
Page
Preface
vii
Introduction
1
Earth’s outer crust
2
Geologists
2
Time and rock units
2
Geologic map
6
What are rocks and minerals?
7
Chemical elements
7
Minerals
7
Rocks
8
Igneous rocks
9
Extrusive or volcanic igneous rocks
9
Intrusive igneous rocks
9
Sedimentary rocks
10
Soils
10
Sedimentary rock materials in broken fragments
11
Sedimentary rock materials in solution
12
Cementing materials and chemical sediments
12
Sedimentary rocks formed by plants and animals
12
Metamorphic rocks
12
Static metamorphism
13
Contact metamorphism
13
Dynamic metamorphism
14
Occurrence and properties of minerals
14
How minerals occur
14
Crystalline minerals
14
Crystals
14
Imperfect crystals
14
Amorphous minerals
15
Some distinguishing properties of minerals
15
Color
16
Luster
16
Transmission of light
16
Hardness
16
Streak or powder
17
Cleavage
17
Parting
17
Fracture
17
Specific gravity
18
Effervescence in acid
18
Some special occurrences of minerals
18
Cave deposits
18
Concretions
19
Geodes
19
Petrified wood
20
Collecting rocks and minerals
22
Rock and mineral identification charts
24
How to use the mineral identification charts
24
Key to mineral identification charts
25
Mineral identification charts
26
How to use the rock identification charts
39
Rock identification charts
40
Descriptions of some Texas rocks and minerals
43
Anhydrite
43
Asbestos
43
Barite
44
Basalt
45
Calcite
46
Cassiterite
47
Celestite
48
Cinnabar
49
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