robin_foster1•3mo agoProlific Poster

Shoutout to a simple vinegar test for solving my mineral mix-up

I had a bunch of white crystals I thought were all quartz until one reacted differently. A quick check with household vinegar showed it was calcite, which bubbles with acid. What other home items do you use for rock ID?

3 comments

3 Comments

nora_scott863mo ago

Vinegar's weak acid won't touch harder carbonates like dolomite.

bettyhunt2mo ago

Found dolomite in my own yard digging a garden bed last spring (surprised me too, @nora_scott86). The chunks fizzed only with the strong acid test kit, not with plain vinegar. Ended up with a whole pile of the stuff next to the tulips.

the_alice3mo ago

Lemon juice works when vinegar's too weak, right @nora_scott86? Found some fizzing bits in gravel that way.