Schist is one of the most common metamorphic rocks in the world. It comes in many varieties and can contain attractive gemstone inclusions, and therefore it’s a very popular rock with collectors. As common as schist is, there are a lot of misunderstandings about what it is. Because one schist specimen can look so different …
Shale is a rock that almost everyone is at least fairly familiar with. It is the most common sedimentary rock on Earth and it has a distinct appearance that often makes it easily recognizable. You often see it used for decorative purposes, and it has enormous economic value in the mining, construction, and oil and …
Metamorphic rocks are some of the most varied and complex rocks found in nature. Because they can be formed from any other type of rock, there is almost no limit to their variety. Being able to properly identify a metamorphic rock can tell you a lot about its geologic history. There are many different types …
Igneous rocks are some of the most interesting rocks found in nature, mostly because of the spectacular way in which they are formed. All igneous rocks are created from the cooling of magma or lava, but there are almost limitless varieties based on the minerals present in the source magma and the temperature and pressure …
Sedimentary rocks are some of the most interesting and widespread rocks found in nature. When most people think of sedimentary rocks images of colorful sandstone layers in picturesque canyons come to mind, but there is a lot more to them than that. There are many different types of sedimentary rocks, and if you know what …
Granite is one of the most commonly found rocks in many areas of the world. Because of its innate strength, beauty, and variety, it is also one of the most popular rocks for amateur collectors and for decorative use in building. Many similar rock types are often described as ‘granite’ but there is actually a …
One of the most common frustrations we have as rock collectors is identifying the cool rocks we find. It’s fun to discover a cool-looking rock and add it to your collection, but it can often be difficult to know exactly what it is you’ve found. I have found that there aren’t a lot of great …