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:
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:
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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