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Rocks: Igneous, Metamorphic and Sedimentary


Rocks hold the history of the earth and the materials that will be used to build its future.

Igneous
Pumice
Igneous Rocks: Photos, descriptions and facts about intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks.

Andesite
Andesite
Basalt
Basalt
Quartz Diorite
Diorite
Gabbro
Gabbro
Granite
Granite
Obsidian
Obsidian
Pegmatite
Pegmatite
Peridotite
Peridotite
Pumice
Pumice
Rhyolite
Rhyolite
Scoria
Scoria
Welded Tuff
Tuff
Metamorphic
gneiss
Metamorphic Rocks: Photos, descriptions and facts about foliated and non-foliated metamorphic rocks.

Amphibolite
Amphibolite
Gneiss
Gneiss
Hornfels
Hornfels
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli
Marble
Marble
Mariposite
Mariposite
Novaculite
Novaculite
Phyllite
Phyllite
Quartzite
Quartzite
Muscovite Schist
Schist
Slate
Slate
Soapstone
Soapstone
Sedimentary
conglomerate
Sedimentary Rocks: Photos and facts about clastic, chemical and organic sedimentary rocks.

Breccia
Breccia
Chert
Chert
Anthracite Coal
Coal
Conglomerate
Conglomerate
dolomite
Dolomite
Flint
Flint
Hematite Iron Ore
Iron Ore
Limestone
Limestone
Halite Rock Salt
Rock Salt
Sandstone
Sandstone
Shale
Shale
Siltstone
Siltstone
Fluorescent Minerals
Fluorescent Minerals
Fluorescent Minerals and rocks glow with spectacular colors under ultraviolet light.
Lapis Lazuli
lapis lazuli
Lapis Lazuli - a metamorphic rock and the most popular blue opaque gemstone in history.
Dacite
Dacite
Dacite - a light-colored extrusive igneous rock intermediate between rhyolite and andesite.
Tumbled Stones
Tumbled Stones
Tumbled Stones are rocks that have been rounded, smoothed and polished in a rock tumbler.
The Brewery Rock ?
diatomite
The Rock Used to Make Beer - Geologists are beer experts and should know about this rock.
Geodes
Geodes
Geodes look like ordinary rocks on the outside but can be spectacular inside!
Sliding Rocks

Sliding Rocks on Racetrack Playa How they slide across a dry lake bed is a mystery.
Quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite a nonfoliated metamorphic rock composed almost entirely of quartz.
Rock and Mineral Kits
Rock and Mineral Kits
Rock, Mineral and Fossil Collections. Specimens for personal or classroom use.
Difficult Rocks
Difficult rocks to identify
Difficult Rocks Elementary students find lots of rocks that you will not be able to identify.
Sand Grains
Sand grains
A Grain of Sand Gallery of sand grains through a microscope by Dr. Gary Greenberg.
Trap Rock
trap rock
Trap Rock is a name applied to any dark-colored igneous rock used to produce crushed stone.
Shale
Shale
Shale The rock that is quickly transforming the energy industry.
Sand
Sand
Sand is a diverse material. This gallery includes photos of sand from around the world.
Unakite
Unakite
Unakite is a metamorphosed granite composed of green epidote and pink orthoclase.
Rock Tumbling
rock tumblers
Rock Tumblers - All about rock tumblers and rock tumbling. Read before you buy a tumbler.
Rock Art
Rock art - petroglyphs
Rock Art People have been producing rock art for thousands of years. A world-wide collection.
Don*t Go To Jail
Don't Go To Jail
Rock Collectors must know the rules before removing rocks from public and private property.
Siltstone
Siltstone
Siltstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of silt-sized particles.
Mariposite
Mariposite
Mariposite - a name used for green chromium-rich micas and certain rocks colored by them.
Tucson Show
Mineral Show Photos
Mineral Show Photos From the 2010 Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show.
Soapstone
Soapstone
Soapstone is a talc-rich rock with properties that make it suitable for a variety of projects.
Antarctic Meteorites
hunting meteorites in Antarctica
The Richest Meteorite Field - More meteorites found here than anywhere else on Earth.
Caliche
Caliche
Caliche is a lithified layer in soil or sediment. It is considered to be a sedimentary rock.
Uses of Granite
Uses of granite
Uses of Granite The rock used everywhere from the kitchen to the facing stone of skyscrapers.
Oil Sands
Oil Sands
Oil Sands contain oil in the form of bitumen - a major oil resource that can be difficult to produce.
Geology Tools
Geology Tools
Geology Tools - Hammers, field bags, hand lenses, maps, hardness picks, gold pans.
Crushed Stone
crushed stone
Crushed Stone - Four tons per person is used each year in the United States.
Gold Panning Kits
Gold Pans
Gold Pans and Panning Kits - classifiers, snuffer bottles. Learn how to pan for gold!
Limestone
Limestone
Limestone A versatile rock used in cement, food, paint, paper, drugs, concrete & more!
Rocks on Mars
Rocks on Mars
Rocks on Mars Many of the rocks found on Mars are not very different from Earth rocks.
Azurite Granite ?
Azurite Granite?
Azurite Granite? Found at the base of K2, the second highest mountain in the world.
Rockfall
Yosemite rockfall
Spectacular Yosemite Rockfall A photo sequence of rockfall and debris avalanche by Herb Dunn.
Coal Close Up
Coal Through a Microscope
Coal Through a Microscope Coal is more than a black rock. It\'s THE most interesting rock.
Forensic Geology
Forensic Geology
Forensic Geology My students come to class thinking that dirt is dirt and sand is sand...
CO2-rich lava
CO2-rich lava
Carbonatite Lava Flows at Oldoinyo Lengai CO2-rich lavas that flow like motor oil.
Pictographs
pictograph
What Are Pictographs? They are drawings or paintings on rocks made by people.
Hand Lens
Hand Lens
Hand Lens A 10-power folding magnifier in a metal case. A frequently used lab and field tool.