Lab 3: Mineral Identification

Peridot is in the Olivine group, and I selected it because August is my birth month. It streaks are colorless, and its hardness ranges from 6.5 to 7. The tenacity is brittle. Peridot is the transparent green variety of Olivine and is popular in jewelry.

http://www.minerals.net/mineral/olivine.aspx

 

I selected Gypsum because it sounds like "gypsy," which reminds me of Stevie Nicks, with whom I am obsessed. Gypsum is commonly found in layered sedimentary rocks, and it is the most common sulfate mineral. The streak is white and the cleavage is perfect. It is used in the manufacturing of wallboard, cement, and plaster. It is a weak stone, which makes a lot of other uses difficult.

 

http://geology.com/minerals/gypsum.shtml