Rocks + Soils Lab

Obsidian- is an extrusive, igneous rock that forms when molten rock material cools so rapidly that atoms are unable to arrange themselves into a crystalline structure.It has a smooth uniform texture. It is usually the color black but it can also be seen with a brown or green type color or even multiple colors  caused by light reflecting from minute inclusions of mineral crystals, rock debris or gas. This is called "Rainbow obsidian" caused by light reflecting from minute inclusions of mineral crystals, rock debris or gas. Here's a picture of this specific type of obsidian.

http://geology.com/rocks/obsidian.shtml

http://www.stonecontact.com/products-229350/rainbow-obsidian-rough

This is a picture of the Marble Caves that are located on the border of Chile and Argentina. These caves are purely made of marble and are one the most beautiful places on earth. There is no other place in the world that has a structure like this completely made of marble. Marble is a metamorphic rock. It is of metamorphosed limestone composition. Marble comes in many different colors. The color of the marble is determined by it's mineral composition during formation and what impurities are present in the limestone during the crystallization process.

http://www.travelingmyself.com/2013/04/28/marble-caves-chile-lago-general-carrera-lake-patagonia/

http://www.ethosmarblecare.co.uk/stonecleaning/marble-restoration-polishing.shtml

This is an example of a sedimentary rock formation.This picture shows the honeycomb weathering at Elgol, Scotland, looking towards the
Cuillins on Skye beach. This honeycomb structure resembles bones.It s beleived that this structure is a result of salt weathering, where salty water percolates through the pore spaces of rocks and evaporates at the surface,disaggregates the grains and break up the clay and cement that holds them together becoming more and more aggressive.The honeycomb weathering is made up of sandstone, which is a type of sedimentary rock.Sandstone is composed of small, sand- sized grains of mineral, rock or organic material. These small grains are created by weathering and transportation caused by moving water, wind or even ice. Sandstone is one of the most common types of sedimentary rock. It is mined for construction material or as a raw material used in manufacturing or even serves as an aquifer for ground water or as a reservoir for oil and natural gas.

http://www.geopoem.com/2013/03/stone-lace.html

http://geology.com/rocks/sandstone.shtml

12 Soil Types of the World

http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/soilorders/orders.htm

Soil Triangle

 The soil diagram is one of the ways we look at soil. This triangle helps to determine types of soil particles.