Rock Identifier
Four quick field tests — the same ones geologists use — narrow your find to the most likely minerals. You'll need a magnet, an unglazed ceramic tile (the back of any bathroom tile works), and a steel knife or nail.
Does a magnet stick to it?
Use a strong fridge magnet or (better) a rare-earth magnet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify a rock I found?
Four field tests identify most common minerals: the magnet test (iron minerals), the streak test (scrape it on unglazed ceramic and note the powder color), the hardness test (what scratches it, what it scratches), and luster (metallic, glassy, waxy, pearly, or dull). Together they narrow thousands of possibilities to a handful.
What does the streak test tell you?
A mineral's streak — its powder color — is more reliable than its surface color. Hematite can look silver-gray but always streaks red-brown; pyrite looks like gold but streaks greenish-black, while real gold streaks golden yellow.
How can I tell if my rock is a meteorite?
Real meteorites are dense, usually attract a magnet strongly, show a thin dark fusion crust and thumbprint-like regmaglypts, and almost never have bubbles. Bubbly, glassy, or slaggy rocks are industrial slag — the most common false alarm, along with magnetite.
What app identifies rocks from photos?
Photo apps guess from appearance alone, which is unreliable for minerals — color varies wildly within one species. Physical field tests (streak, hardness, magnetism) are what actual geologists use, and posting clear photos plus your test results to an identification forum gets you a confident answer from experienced rockhounds.
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