Breccia is a very unique rock type, with a highly variable appearance. It doesn’t get enough credit for how beautiful it can be, and many people aren’t even familiar enough with it to be able to readily identify it. It is easy to confuse breccia for other rock types, but it is a well-defined and …
Conglomerate is a very unique looking and highly variable rock. It doesn’t get enough credit for how beautiful it can be, and many people aren’t even familiar enough with it to be able to readily identify it. It is easy to confuse conglomerate for other rock types, or even to dismiss it as a rock …
Most people are familiar with obsidian thanks to its distinct glassy appearance. It is very popular with collectors, and it has plenty of practical applications. It can be found in specific locations all around the world, making it relatively accessible to collectors. When most people think of obsidian they picture a black, glassy volcanic rock. …
Rhyolite is a very common igneous rock that can be found all around the world. It’s one of my favorite rocks because it can come in many different colors and varieties and it often has interesting features like inclusions of larger crystals. Despite rhyolite’s relative abundance, many people aren’t all that familiar with it. While …
Identifying minerals can be a challenging process, especially if you’ve never done it before. When I was learning how to identify minerals in college it took me a while to understand the process and remember all the characteristics I needed to know, so I feel your pain! Over the years I have learned that identifying …
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 …