The following exercise introduces a minimum number of minerals, sediments, and rocks, and a minimum number of terms. All of these terms will reappear again and again throughout the semester. Crystal form is seldom seen, thus rarely diagnostic.
Boldfaced characteristics are immediately diagnostic.
Examine the specimens in the tray. For each, determine whether or not it is a mineral . Trinity Minerals is a good place to start, and The Mineral Domain has a nice search feature. Sediments Sediments cover most of the world's land surface. Examine the specimens in the tray.