Rocks and Minerals B/C

[darkdeserthighway]

Last year was my first year in SciOly, and at my first invitational, there was apparently a decent-sized piece of uncut, unpolished diamond. I say apparently because it was at a station with four other clear-white minerals and I was unable to identify it.

Was anything provided at that station to help with ID?

I mean, there were distinct differences in the samples, my partner and I just weren't prepared enough to recognize it. Plus, we did bring our own magnifying glass, which was somewhat helpful.

I mean, was glass/streak plate provided?

[ali941]

I mean, there were distinct differences in the samples, my partner and I just weren't prepared enough to recognize it. Plus, we did bring our own magnifying glass, which was somewhat helpful.

I mean, was glass/streak plate provided?

From what I remember, yes. Most stations had streak plates.

[darkdeserthighway]

oh, ok

[thedarknight]

Does anybody who has done this event before know how "economic importance" will be on the exam? Would this be uses of the rock/mineral on the test or something else?

[hotchocolate123]

Economic Importance is usually about how the rock/mineral is used and how it's important to the economy and our lives. For example, one of the economic importance's of bauxite is that it is the ore of aluminum.

[thedarknight]

Makes sense...and also what would "clues to past environments" entail of?

[hotchocolate123]

It means that like some minerals/rocks provide clues as to how the land was thousands of years ago. For example, specific types of coal may indicate that the land was once a dense swamp filled area.

[19puppylover]

Why is Goethite and Limonite together on the List for 2014, but are pretty much completely different????

[maxiscool1127]

Why is Goethite and Limonite together on the List for 2014, but are pretty much completely different????

They have pretty much the same composition....

[Flavorflav]

In fact, Limonite is no longer an actual mineral but a term used for a group of minerals, of which Goethite is the most common.