How can you tell what minerals occur in a cement? Simply remember the basic physical properties of the minerals (e. g., hardness, the ability to react with HCl, color). With these properties in mind, answer the following questions concerning sandstone, a type of sedimentary rock consisting of cemented-together grains of quartz sand. (a) The cement (but not the grains) in a sedimentary rock reacts when in contact with dilute HCI. The cement consists of:.
(b) The rock, overall, has a reddish color. The cement contains:.
(c) The cement is very strong, and when scratched with a steel needle it has the same hardness as the grains. The cement consists of:.