What mineral are you looking at?
September 3, 2016 12:47 PM Subscribe
ID a mystery mineral by answering questions!
This Mineral Key is designed and intended for use on-line. The premise behind this Key is similar to that of the identification keys found in some fern and wildflower books: Key diagnostic properties are used to direct users to tables where further information on "likely suspects" is found. That information is then used to narrow down the choices to one or a few of the most likely minerals. Then more detailed information can be found in a mineral guide book or website databases such as Mindat, Webmineral, or the MSA's "Handbook of Mineralogy" in order to make a final determination of the mineral in the sample.
Brought to you by my need after coming home from the gem show with mystery rocks!
This Mineral Key is designed and intended for use on-line. The premise behind this Key is similar to that of the identification keys found in some fern and wildflower books: Key diagnostic properties are used to direct users to tables where further information on "likely suspects" is found. That information is then used to narrow down the choices to one or a few of the most likely minerals. Then more detailed information can be found in a mineral guide book or website databases such as Mindat, Webmineral, or the MSA's "Handbook of Mineralogy" in order to make a final determination of the mineral in the sample.
Brought to you by my need after coming home from the gem show with mystery rocks!
They specify in the ID kit list that you have to have a pre-1983 penny.
posted by winna at 2:38 PM on September 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by winna at 2:38 PM on September 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
Oh my god! I may finally be able to label all my stone eggs! I need to bring the label maker home and get to work!
posted by stoneegg21 at 3:09 PM on September 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by stoneegg21 at 3:09 PM on September 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
If those ID kits are a penny I'll take 100. What a steal!
posted by swift at 3:49 PM on September 3, 2016
posted by swift at 3:49 PM on September 3, 2016
Hm, 1982 is the year they switched and you can find both copper and zinc versions in circulation from that year. Unless a person knows how to tell the difference, best to go with 1981 or earlier to be sure.
posted by traveler_ at 4:34 PM on September 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by traveler_ at 4:34 PM on September 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Flashbacks of college geology.
I avoided taking a biology lab by identifing rocks for a semester. Good times.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:31 PM on September 3, 2016
I avoided taking a biology lab by identifing rocks for a semester. Good times.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:31 PM on September 3, 2016
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Does this take into account that US pennies are zinc?
posted by I-baLL at 2:04 PM on September 3, 2016 [2 favorites]