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What Type of Rock is It? 

 

Look at the overall appearance of the stone in the building. Observe the color, texture, and structure of the stone. 

Does the stone look evenly colored, with an even texture?

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Yes

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No

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Look at the grains up close. Do you see fossil fragments (bits of shells or skeletons)?   Do you see streaks or clouds of color in a mostly white stone?
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Yes

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 No

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 Yes

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No 

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 Are the grains rounded like sand on the beach?

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 Look at the grains up close. Do you see a mixture of colors (black, white, gray, maybe pink or red)?

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Limestone  Sandstone   Marble  Granite 
Some of these stones may have layers that were the original beds that formed the stones.   The grains in these rocks may look like crystals that fit together like jigsaw puzzle pieces.

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This page is URL:https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/acidrain/type.html
Maintained by John Watson
Last modified 07.21.97