CSE (Captains Summer Exchange) — Rocks and Minerals

Rocks and Minerals · Division C · CSE (Captains Summer Exchange) · 2026

38 questions · 98 points · 50 min· 8 questions from the original omitted

Original test source

You have 50 minutes to complete the test. There are obviously no stations. You are allowed one three-ring binder.

Section I: Multiple Choice

Question 1

2 pts

What does it mean for a rock to be plutonic?

A. A rock that comes from PlutoB. A rock that cools on the inside of the earthC. A rock that cools exposed to the atmosphereD. Any igneous rockE. A rock from rapid cooling after being thrown into water or similar cool liquid

Question 2

2 pts

JerryRigEveryathing scratched the screen of a Redmagic phone and found that it had light scratches at a level 8, with deeper grooves at a level 9. What is the screen most likely made of?

A. TopazB. ZirconC. SapphireD. Beryl

Question 3

2 pts

Which of these is NOT a type of coal?

A. AnthraciteB. BituminousC. CoquinaD. Lignite

Question 4

2 pts

Which of the following would scratch the others?

A. HematiteB. GalenaC. RutileD. Apatite

Question 5

2 pts

Chalcopyrite can be oxidized to form a few different minerals. Which of the following can it NOT be oxidized to?

A. MalachiteB. CopperC. AzuriteD. Cuprite

Question 6

2 pts

Which of the following is the rarest color of talc?

A. WhiteB. YellowC. PinkD. Colorless is the rarest “color”

Question 7

2 pts

Why is amethyst purple?

A. Exposure to natural radiation changes the oxidation state of iron impurities in the rock; this color fades after it is minedB. Manganese ions give the rock its purple colorC. There are many reasons, but the main reason is due to rare earth metal impuritiesD. Yttrium impurities cause this purple color, just like in fluorite

Question 8

2 pts

What is another (relatively antiquated) name for continental crust?

A. simaB. simgC. sialD. masi

Question 9

2 pts

Greg the isopod loves playing Minecraft. A very common block in the game is cobblestone. A rock classified as cobble would have a diameter of…?

A. 1-30 mmB. 30-60 mmC. 60-200 mmD. 200-1000 mm

Question 10

2 pts

Which of the following has the highest refractive index relative to the others?

A. RutileB. DiamondC. CalciteD. Zircon

Question 11

2 pts

Which of the following is commonly known as “TV Stone”, due to its fiber-optic properties?

A. UlexiteB. QuartzC. CalciteD. Fluorite

Question 12

2 pts

Which of the following is NOT a mineraloid?

A. AnthraciteB. LigniteC. CalciteD. Obsidian

Question 13

2 pts

Why are there very few obsidian samples older than the Miocene?

A. Obsidian is brittle and breaks down really easily due to weatheringB. Obsidian devitrifies over timeC. Obsidian hydrates to form perliteD. It converts to basalt over time

Question 14

2 pts

How would you differentiate Muscovite from Biotite?

A. StreakB. HardnessC. ColorD. Density

Section II: Free Response

PassageFor questions II-1–II-15

Identify the following rocks/minerals. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary. (3 points each)

Question II-1

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-2

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-3

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-4

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-5

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-6

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-7

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-8

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-9

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-10

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-11

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-12

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-13

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-14

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

Question II-15

3 pts

Identify the rock/mineral shown. If it is a mineral, identify the family; if it is a rock, state whether the rock is igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

PassageFor questions 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f

Suppose Thaddaeus the Annomalocaris and Greg the Isopod are searching for their Cambrian friends.

Question 2a

1 pt

Knowing that their friends lived in shallow, coastal marine environments with relatively low energy, what type of rock would likely form in this environment?

Question 2b

1 pt

The answer to the previous question is primarily composed of what mineral? Name or chemical formula are both acceptable.

Question 2c

4 pts

In terms of magmatic composition and manner of formation, explain the differences between the rock found within the dikes, and that found in the area immediately above them.

Question 2d

2 pts

Name one example of a rock found in each of the above locations

Question 2e

1 pt

While exploring the aforementioned rock unit, Thaddaeus and Greg find the below crystal of a particular mineral. What mineral is it?

Question 2f

6 pts

This crystal is exhibiting an interesting quirk of crystal formation: Twinning. What are the three different types of twinning, and what is the cause of each?

PassageFor questions 3a, 3b, 3c

The following questions are about Bowen's reaction series.

Question 3a

2 pts

What is the difference in composition between the Discontinuous series and the Continuous series?

Question 3b

1 pt

Which kind of magma were Bowen’s experiments based on?

Question 3c

7 pts

List out the order of Bowen’s reaction series from LOW to HIGH temperature, ignoring the plagioclases.

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