Rock and mineral identification guide
892 rocks, minerals and fossils with their hardness, streak and the test that tells each one from its lookalikes, plus where they have been found.
How do you identify a rock?
To identify a rock or mineral, test what it does rather than trusting its color: check its streak on unglazed porcelain, whether it scratches glass, whether it fizzes in vinegar and whether a magnet picks it up. A rock is made of one or more minerals; a mineral is one natural compound with a fixed formula and crystal form.
Browse by type
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Identify by color
Use the color of a fresh break.
Common rocks and minerals
Nº 0176Mohs 3.5–4MalachiteVivid green, often banded; green streak; fizzes in vinegar.
Nº 0175Mohs 3.5–4AzuriteDeep azure-blue copper mineral; blue streak; usually with malachite.
Nº 0487Mohs 7AmethystPurple quartz — pale lilac to deep violet, often in geode clusters.
Nº 0314Mohs 8TopazHarder than quartz; one perfect flat cleavage; heavy glassy prisms in rhyolite cavities.
Nº 0086Mohs 4FluoriteGlassy cubes in purples and greens; a knife barely scratches it; often fluorescent.
Nº 0019Mohs 6–6.5PyriteBrassy metallic cubes or masses; hard, brittle; greenish-black streak.
Nº 0595Mohs 5–5.5ObsidianVolcanic glass — razor-edged conchoidal fracture, glassy through and through.
Nº 0519Mohs 6.5–7AgateBanded chalcedony — concentric color bands, waxy luster, takes a fine polish.
Nº 0546Mohs 6.5–7JasperOpaque chalcedony — red, yellow, brown, green; waxy to dull; polishes beautifully.
Nº 0229Mohs 5–6TurquoiseSky-blue to green waxy nodules and veins, often with brown matrix spider-webbing.
Nº 0441Mohs 2–4ChrysocollaRobin-egg blue-green crusts, surprisingly light; often silica-hardened.
Nº 0708Mohs 3–5TrilobiteThree-lobed segmented "bug" in shale or limestone.The Mohs hardness scale
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Example: malachite 3.5–4Mohs scale from 1, talc, to 10, diamond. A fingernail is 2.5, a copper coin 3.5, a steel knife 5.5 and a steel file 6.5.
Commonly confused rocks and minerals
Pyrite or gold?Pyrite leaves a greenish-black streak and shatters. Gold leaves a golden streak and dents under a pin.Read the pyrite entryAgate or jasper?Hold it to the sun. Agate glows at its thin edges; jasper stays dark.Read the agate entry
Geode or thunderegg?A geode is hollow and light for its size. A thunderegg is solid to the core.Read the comparisonReal 3D scans
18 specimens scanned by the Paleontological Research Institution.
All 892 entries, A to Z
Minerals 566
AcanthiteActinoliteAdamiteAdulariaAegirineAgateAgatized coralAjoiteAlexandriteAllaniteAlmandineAlstoniteAltaiteAluniteAmazoniteAmberAmblygoniteAmethystAmetrineAnalcimeAnataseAncyliteAndalusiteAndean opalAndraditeAnglesiteAnhydriteAnkeriteAnnabergiteAnthophylliteAntigoriteAntleriteApatiteApophylliteAquamarineAragoniteArfvedsoniteArgentiteArsenoliteArsenopyriteArtiniteAstrophylliteAtacamiteAugiteAurichalciteAutuniteAventurineAxiniteAzuriteBanded agateBariteBarytocalciteBastnaesiteBenitoiteBerthieriteBertranditeBerylBiotiteBischofiteBismuthiniteBixbyiteBlack moonstoneBlue chalcedonyBlue Lace agateBlue opalBlue quartzBoehmiteBoraciteBoraxBorniteBotallackiteBotswana agateBoulangeriteBournoniteBranneriteBrauniteBravoiteBrazilian agateBrazilianiteBrecciated jasperBrochantiteBromargyriteBronziteBrookiteBruciteBumblebee "jasper"BustamiteCalaveriteCalciteCaledoniteCalomelCancriniteCarnalliteCarnelianCarnotiteCarrolliteCassiteriteCat's-eye chrysoberylCavansiteCelestiteCerussiteChabaziteChalcanthiteChalcedonyChalcociteChalcopyriteChalcosideriteChalcostibiteCharoiteChevron amethystChiastoliteChildreniteChlorargyriteChlorastroliteChloriteChlorite phantom quartzChondroditeChrome diopsideChromiteChrysoberylChrysocollaChrysocolla in chalcedonyChrysopraseChrysotileCinnabarCitrineClinochloreClinohumiteClinozoisiteCoated quartzCobaltiteColemaniteColumbiteConichalciteCopiapiteCopperCordieriteCornetiteCoronaditeCorundumCovelliteCrandalliteCrocidoliteCrocoiteCryoliteCryptomelaneCubaniteCummingtoniteCupriteDanburiteDatoliteDemantoidDendritic agateDescloiziteDesert roseDesert rose gypsumDiamondDiasporeDickiteDigeniteDiopsideDioptaseDolomiteDraviteDumortieriteDumortierite quartzDyed dolomiteDyed jadeDyed marbleEdeniteEilat stoneElbaiteElectrumElestial quartzEmeraldEmerald quartzEnargiteEnstatiteEosphoriteEpidoteEpsomiteErythriteEuclaseEudialyteEuxeniteFairburn agateFamatiniteFaustiteFerberiteFergusoniteFire agateFluorapatiteFluoriteFossil coral agateFrankliniteFreibergiteFuchsiteGadoliniteGahniteGalenaGarnieriteGaylussiteGedriteGerman lapisGersdorffiteGibbsiteGlauberiteGlaucodotGlauconiteGlaucophaneGoethiteGoldGosheniteGraphiteGreenockiteGrossularGruneriteGypsumHackmaniteHaliteHalloysiteHanksiteHausmanniteHaüyneHawk's-eyeHedenbergiteHeliodorHeliotropeHematiteHematoid quartzHemimorphiteHercyniteHerderiteHerkimer diamondHessiteHessoniteHeulanditeHiddeniteHollanditeHornblendeHowliteHuebneriteHumiteHuntiteHyacinth zirconHydroboraciteHydrogrossularHydromagnesiteHydrozinciteHyperstheneIceland sparIlliteIlmeniteIlvaiteImperial topazIndicoliteInyoiteIodargyriteIridiumJadeiteJamesoniteJarositeJasperJetJordisiteKaersutiteKainiteKamaciteKambaba jasperKammereriteKaoliniteKerniteKieseriteKrenneriteKunziteKyaniteLabradoriteLake County diamondLake Superior agateLarimarLaumontiteLawsoniteLazuliteLazuriteLeadhilliteLemon quartzLeopardskin jasperLepidocrociteLepidoliteLeuciteLibetheniteLiddicoatiteLimoniteLinariteLinnaeiteLithargeLithiophiliteLizarditeLlaniteLodoliteLoellingiteLonsdaleiteLudlamiteLuzoniteMaghemiteMagnesiochromiteMagnesiteMagnetiteMalachiteMali garnetManganiteMarcasiteMaripositeMassicotMelaniteMelanteriteMesoliteMeta-autuniteMetatorberniteMiargyriteMicroclineMicroliteMilky quartzMilleriteMimetiteMiniumMirabiliteMolybdeniteMonaziteMontebrasiteMontmorilloniteMookaiteMoonstoneMordeniteMorganiteMoss agateMottramiteMtoroliteMuscoviteMystic topazNative antimonyNative arsenicNative bismuthNative mercuryNatroliteNatronNephelineNephriteNeptuniteNesquehoniteNickelineNontroniteNorbergiteNoseanOcean jasperOkeniteOligoclaseOliveniteOlivineOmphaciteOnyxOpalOrbicular jasperOrpimentOrthoclasePalladiumPalygorskiteParaiba tourmalinePararealgarParatacamitePargasiteParisitePeach moonstonePearceitePecos diamondPectolitePentagonitePentlanditePericlasePeridotPeristeritePerovskitePerthitePetalitePetrified palmPetzitePhenakitePhlogopitePhoenicochroitePhosgenitePhosphuranylitePicture jasperPiemontitePietersitePink opalPitchblendePlagioclasePlancheitePlatinumPlattneritePlumbojarositePollucitePolybasitePolyhalitePowellitePrasePrasiolitePrehnitePriceiteProbertiteProustitePseudomalachitePsilomelanePumpellyitePurpuritePyrargyritePyritePyrochlorePyrolusitePyromorphitePyrophyllitePyroxmangitePyrrhotiteQuartz (rock crystal)Rainbow moonstoneRainforest jasperRammelsbergiteRealgarRed berylRed tiger's eyeResin-impregnated stoneRhodiziteRhodochrositeRhodoliteRhodoniteRichteriteRiebeckiteRomanechiteRosasiteRose quartzRubelliteRubyRutilated quartzRutileSaffloriteSamarskiteSanidineSaponiteSapphireSapphirineSardSardonyxSassoliteSatin sparScapoliteSceptre amethystScheeliteSchorlScoleciteScorzaliteSeleniteSenarmontiteSepioliteSeraphiniteSericiteSerpentineShattuckiteSideriteSilicified woodSillimaniteSilverSkutteruditeSmithsoniteSmoky citrineSmoky quartzSodaliteSpectroliteSpeculariteSpessartineSphaerocobaltiteSphaleriteSpinelSpirit quartzSpodumeneStar rose quartzStauroliteStephaniteStibiconiteStibniteStilbiteStilpnomelaneStolziteStrawberry quartzStrengiteStrontianiteSugiliteSulfurSunstoneSunstone feldsparSwiss lapisSylvaniteSylviteSynchysiteTaaffeiteTaeniteTalcTantaliteTanzaniteTelluric ironTellurobismuthiteTennantiteTenoriteTetradymiteTetrahedriteThenarditeThomsoniteThorianiteThoriteThuliteTiger's eyeTitaniteTodorokiteTopazTorberniteTourmalinated quartzTremoliteTriphyliteTroiliteTronaTsavoriteTurqueniteTurquoiseTurritella agateTyuyamuniteUlexiteUllmanniteUraniniteUranophaneUvaroviteUviteValentiniteVanadiniteVarisciteVauqueliniteVermiculiteVesuvianiteVivianiteVoltaiteWatermelon tourmalineWavelliteWhitlockiteWillemiteWitheriteWolframiteWollastoniteWonderstoneWulfeniteWurtziteXenotimeZaratiteZebra jasperZeuneriteZinciteZinnwalditeZirconZoisite
Rocks 172
AlabasterAmphiboliteAmygdaloidal basaltAndesiteAnorthositeAnthraciteAnyoliteApache tearsApliteArkoseArmored mud ballAugen gneissBanded iron formationBarite rosetteBasaltBasaltic bombBauxiteBeach pebbleBentonite clayBituminous coalBlack shaleBlueschistBoxworkBrecciaCalicheCannonball concretionCarbonatiteCave popcornChalkChertChert noduleChinese writing stoneClaystoneClaystone concretionCoalColumnar basaltCone-in-cone structureConglomerateCoquinaDaciteDendritic manganese on limestoneDiabaseDiamictiteDiatomiteDioriteDolostoneDuniteEclogiteFanglomerateFieldstoneFlintFlowstoneFossiliferous limestoneFulguriteFuller's earthGabbroGarnet schistGeodeGneissGraniteGraywackeGreensandGreenschistGreenstoneHarzburgiteHematite concretionHematite noduleHornfelsImatra stoneIron oxide concretionIronstoneKimberliteLapis lazuliLateriteLatiteLherzoliteLiesegang bandingLigniteLimestoneLithareniteLoessLoess dollMagnetite concretionMagnetite noduleMahogany obsidianManganese dendriteMarbleMarcasite sunMarlMetaconglomerateMica schistMicriteMigmatiteMoldaviteMonzoniteMoqui marbleMud crack castMudstoneMyloniteNepheline syeniteNovaculiteNuummiteObsidianOil shaleOolitic limestoneOrthoconglomerateParaconglomeratePea gravelPegmatitePele's hairPele's tearsPeridotitePerlitePhonolitePhosphoritePhyllitePillow basaltPitchstonePorphyryPumicePyrite sunPyroxeniteQuartz areniteQuartz monzoniteQuartziteRainbow obsidianRed bedsReticuliteRhyoliteRiver rockRock gypsumRock saltRosette concretionSand spikeSandstoneSandstone concretionSchistScoriaSeptarian noduleSerpentiniteShaleShaman stoneSheen obsidianShungiteSiltstoneSkarnSlateSnowflake obsidianSoapstoneStalactiteStalagmiteStaurolite schistStyloliteSubarkoseSyeniteTactiteTektiteThundereggTilliteTonaliteTrace-like burrow castTrachyteTravertineTufaTuffUnakiteVerd antiqueVesicular basaltVolcanic bombVolcanic brecciaWelded tuffYooperlite
Fossils 68
Agatized coral headAlgal matAmmoliteAmmoniteBaculiteBelemniteBison boneBivalveBlastoidBrachiopodBryozoanBurrow castCephalopod jawColonial coralConcretion with fossilConularidCoproliteCrinoid calyxCrinoid stemCycad fossilCystoidDinosaur boneDinosaur toothDinosaur trackEchinoid spineEurypteridFern fossilFish fossilFossil boneFossil coneFossil crabFossil eggFossil insectFossil millipedeFossil sea urchinFossil shrimpFossil turtle shellGastrolithGastropodGraptoliteHorseshoe crab fossilLeaf impressionMammoth toothMastodon toothMosasaur toothNautiloidOncoliteOrthocerasOstracodPetrified woodPlacoderm platePlant fossilPlesiosaur vertebraRaindrop impressionRay dental plateReceptaculitesRipple markRudistRugose coralSeptarian with fossilShark toothSponge fossilStarfish fossilStromatoliteStromatoporoidTrilobiteTrilobite traceWorm burrow
Meteorites 11
Man-made 54
Abrasive gritAlum crystalAngel auraAquarium gravelAsphaltAura quartzBlock turquoiseBrickCeramicClinkerConcreteCrushed limestone aggregateCubic zirconiaDyed agateDyed howliteDyed magnesiteDyed quartziteFired clay fragmentFlame-fusion rubyFly ash beadFoundry sandFurnace bottomGlassGlass gemGlass insulatorGrinding swarfGrinding wheel fragmentIndustrial spheroidKiln furnitureLab bismuth crystalLab opalLab-grown diamondLeaded glassMagnetic slagMoissaniteMortarOrgonitePorcelainRailroad ballastReconstituted turquoiseRoad aggregateSea glassShot-blast beadSilicon carbideSmelter slagSmoky auraSpark-plug porcelainSynthetic corundumSynthetic emeraldSynthetic quartzSynthetic sapphireSynthetic spinelTerrazzoTitanium quartz
Organics 21
Photo credits, Wikimedia Commons: Malachite by James St. John, CC BY 2.0; Azurite by Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0; Amethyst by Ra'ike (see also: de:Benutzer:Ra'ike), CC BY 2.5; Topaz by Didier Descouens, CC BY 3.0; Fluorite by James St. John, CC BY 2.0; Pyrite by Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0; Obsidian by Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0; Agate by James St. John, CC BY 2.0; Jasper by Darla Sondrol, CC0; Turquoise by Adrian Pingstone, Public domain; Chrysocolla by Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0; Trilobite by Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, CC BY-SA 4.0; Meteorites by Ahmad Fairuz, CC BY-SA 4.0; Man-made by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg), CC BY-SA 4.0; Organics by James St. John, CC BY 2.0; Gold by Alchemist-hp (talk) www.pse-mendelejew.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 de; Geode by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 4.0; Thunderegg by David Rix Eibonvale, CC BY 3.0.
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