This is a corrected version of a previous upload. This is a simple homeschool exercise for my children.

1. Rocks, Minerals
and the Periodic Table
Photo credit for all images in this presentation: Brett Provance
Chemical compositions from Joel E. Arem, Color Encyclopedia of Gemstones, second
edition (New York: Chapman & Hall, 1977, 1987)

2. Pyrite crystal
Chemical composition: FeS2
List Elements:
_______________________________
_______________________________
This crystal is a natural perfect cube; it
was not carved by human hands.
Pyrite is sometimes called “fool’s gold”
because it is mistaken for real gold.
What is the chemical symbol for gold?
_______________________

3. Lapis Lazuli (Lazurite)
Chemical composition:
(Na,Ca) 8 (Al,Si)12 O24 (S,SO4)
List Elements:
_______________________________
_______________________________
This is a relatively high quality piece of
lapis, that is, it does not contain a lot
of impurities.
This piece comes from
Afghanistan, where the best lapis is
located.
The ancient Sumerians, who founded
the first civilization, imported this
mineral for decorative purposes.

4. Lapis sphere
This is a large (expensive) lapis stone
that has been worked into a spherical
shape and then polished.
What do you think it looks like?
______________________________

5. Rhodochrosite
Chemical composition: MnCO3 + Fe, Ca
List Elements:
______________________________
______________________________
Any word that begins with “rh” is likely
Greek in origin. In Greek, rhodon
means “rose,” and chros means
“color.” Why do you think this mineral
is called rhodochrosite?
________________________

6. Malachite
Chemical composition: CuCO3(OH)2
List Elements:
______________________________
______________________________
Can you guess which element gives
malachite its green color?
________________________

7. Purple Opal
Chemical composition: SiO2 . nH2O
List Elements:
______________________________
______________________________
Basic quartz is SiO2. What has been
added to quartz to help make this
opal?
________________________
Opal is said to be “hydrous,” which
means having water in it. It is likely for
opals that are exposed to air to begin
to crack as they dehydrate. What do
you think “dehydrate” means?
________________________

8. Dinosaur Fossil (left) and Picture Jasper (right)
Does the dinosaur fossil have any of
the original dinosaur left in it?
_______________________
Why or why not?
_______________________________
_______________________________
The picture jasper is mostly made from
quartz. Therefore, what elements
mostly make up the picture jasper?
_______________________________