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How could a geologist use acid to get a pyrite fossil out of limestone?
Answers9911
Hydrochloric acid is used by geologists in the field to test if a rock contains carbonate minerals and to further distinguish between calcium and magnesium carbonate rocks. When acid is poured onto a non carbonate rock sample there will usually be no reaction. However calcium carbonate (limestone) will react by fizzing vigorously and magnesium carbonate (dolomite) will also react or fizz, but much more slowly.
If the geologist suspects the sample in question is marble he will attempt to crush or powder part of the specimen using his geological hammer. When the acid is poured onto powdered marble, this will also react by fizzing.
Some other sedimentary rocks, for example sandstones, may have mineral cements that are carbonates. As such acid can also be used as an aid in the identification of the cementing material.
The "fizzing" is caused by the reaction of the acid with the carbonate rocks to produce carbon dioxide gas. The reaction takes the following form:
HCl(aq) + CaCO3(s) = CaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Where:
HCl = hydrochloric acid
CaCO3 = calcium carbonate
CaCl2 = calcium chloride
CO2 = carbon dioxide
H2O = water
If the sample still does not react with acid in any way after following the above steps, the geologist will most likely conclude that the sample is not a carbonate of any form. However they may also take the sample back to the laboratory for further study.
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Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoput acid on it and it digs away at the rock..
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What is example of a question you could ask about a fossil of an extinct organism?
You could ask what era is it from.
Could you go to school without using fossil fuels?
Yes. You could bike or walk.
Which fossil type could contain preserved parts of an organism?
mold fosssil
What kind of fossil is a arrowhead made thousands of year ago?
Arrowheads are not fossils, they were made by the Native Americans to use on the tips of their arrows.
Do fossil form in shale or halite?
Fossils could form in shale. Halite is table salt, a mineral with a crystalline structure that is not compatible with understood fossil formation methods.
What could take a layer of limestone away from a fossil?
If the fossil is replaced with silica the easiest way to remove the limestone is with weak acid such as vinegar. If the fossil is also limestone the best way to free it is by carefully removing the limestone with small picks and drills. This is usually best left to expert conservators as it can be delicate work.
What is a sentence for geologist?
A geologist could tell you what kind of rock that is. I am studying to become a geologist.
Could pyrite be useful?
It can be used as fuel
How can you extract fossils from limestone?
It depends on their size and chemical composition. Fossils closely akin to the limestone matrix in composition would need to be manually removed by use of dental tools, scrapers, or electric Dremel type tools. If the fossil has been replaced by silica, it could be removed by the application of acid to remove the limestone that surrounds it.
How could you determine if a mineral is pyrite or?
If you mean pyrite or gold- gold is soft- pyrite is brittle. Gold melts easily- pyrite does not. Acid dissolves pyrite, but not gold. Finally- you may have heard "All that glitters is not gold". It SHOULD be "NOTHING that glitters is gold." Natural gold may be shiny, but does not glitter- like pyrites will.
Does pyrite have no visible grain?
no it has visible grain but i could be not correct.
What rocks can pyrite be found in?
Pyrite could be found in any of the three rock types (sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic).
Was fossil fuels once limestone rocks?
No they were not they use to be living plants and animals that died and were covered with dirt and melted and squeezed until they formed into a material that could be burned and used for energy.
Would you expect to find fossils in limestone?
Limestone is a term for rock made primarily from Calcium Carbonate. When marine animals and plants die, their bodies disintegrate and rest on the floor of waterbeds. Their bodies break down into Calcium Carbonate gradually and limestone is created as a result of this break down of organic matter.
Can pyrites be silver in color?
You could try, but I'd suggest that the heat involved would severely damage if not destroy the pyrite. Try epoxy, or wire wrap your pyrite.
Is a fossilized wasp nest worth anything?
No, a hornets nest is not worth any money at all. You can decorate the nest and use it as a decoration.
Could someon help me in a science project on rocks?
Yes, a geologist.
