Find the odd material (gemstones vs rock): Select the item that is not a gemstone but a metamorphic rock.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Marble

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Minerals and rocks are distinct categories. Diamond, ruby, and sapphire are gemstones (mineral species or varieties). Marble is a metamorphic rock composed chiefly of recrystallized carbonate minerals, which places it in a different geological class.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Diamond: gemstone (carbon crystal).
  • Ruby: gemstone (corundum variety with chromium).
  • Sapphire: gemstone (corundum variety with other trace elements).
  • Marble: metamorphic rock, not a single mineral species.


Concept / Approach:
Classify by geology: single-mineral gemstones vs polymineralic (or rock-class) material. Marble’s composition and formation (metamorphism of limestone/dolostone) make it unlike the gemstones.



Step-by-Step Solution:

1) Tag diamond/ruby/sapphire as gemstones.2) Tag marble as rock.3) Marble is the sole rock → odd one out.


Verification / Alternative check:
Usage contexts: gemstones are cut for jewelry; marble is quarried for architecture/sculpture.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
They belong to the gemstone class with distinct optical hardness and clarity properties.



Common Pitfalls:
Do not conflate “ornamental stone” with “gemstone”; gemology vs petrology categories differ.



Final Answer:
Marble

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