Help with Rocks and Minerals, an event in Science Olympiad (division B)?

Question

I need the steps to identifying rocks and how to use my guide (Audubon Field Guide). Any and all help is appreciated. So are websites.
THANKS!

Answer 1

hmm, too bad i have the petersen field guide.

you first look at the rock, does it have any crystalline structure? does it have any cleavage? (no i don't mean boobs i mean areas of the rocks that have been sheared cleanly) a diamond has lots of cleavage, mica has cleavage along one plain granite doesn't have cleavage. how hard is it? try scratching it with your fingernail, a screw, a steel file, a piece of quartz. what color is it? is it magnetic?

these might not be in the best order but i think you get the picture.

the field guide should have a hardness chart to help you out with that and it should give descriptions of what type of cleavage and color are to be expected.

then its just a matter of sleuthing it out.