7 Ways to Identify my Rock or Mineral

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Identifying a rock or mineral can be difficult for many.  Even the most seasoned veteran can get stumped every once and awhile at a specimen they have found or acquired.  Not to worry though, there are plenty of resources out there that can help you identify your rock or mineral.   

In this article we are going to go over 7 ways to identify my rock or mineral.

  • Using Rock and Mineral Websites.
  • Buying Rock and Mineral Books.
  • Rock and Mineral Shops.
  • Going to Rock and Mineral Shows.
  • Joining Rock and Mineral Clubs.
  • Local Museums.
  • Geological Surveys and Data.

Though these are not the only ways to identify a rock or mineral, they are the best start to any newcomer to rocks and minerals.  As time goes on you can delve into more scientific means to identify your rock or mineral. Such scientific means could include using the Mohs scale of hardens or testing the streak of the rock or mineral.

Those that are not as into rocks or minerals may use these ways to identify a rock or mineral just once or twice.  Those that get more interested in rocks and minerals will start to get the hang of it and be able to identify rocks and minerals more easily.

Let’s get into more detail on these 7 ways to identify my rock or mineral.

Using Rock and Mineral Websites

Rock and mineral websites are one of the best ways to help you identify a rock or a mineral.  Like this website, there will be useful information and pictures available on the website that can help you identify your rock or mineral.

You may or may not have some inkling of what it is you have in your possession.  A rock and mineral website at times can have search capabilities, a rock and mineral list, or dropdown menus to help you in your search.

If the website has some good information, it may go into a great description of the rock or mineral.  Discussion points such as color, worth, formation, uses, history, and locations can be very valuable information to you.  However, nothing speaks louder than a good picture in helping you identify your rock or mineral.

Sometimes a good internet search of images will really help you in your discovery.  After that, you may want to hit a few websites to learn more about your rock or mineral.   

Buying Rock and Mineral Books

Books are a great resource in learning more about rocks and minerals.  Books are quickly becoming more unused in this information computer age but they can still be quite helpful. 

Rockhounders, or rock and mineral collectors, out in the field may not have readily available access to the internet.  This is where a really good book would come into play when trying to identify your rock or mineral.

 A good rock and mineral book will have some basic information on each rock or mineral, maybe on a single page.  What will make or break a book is having some great images of each rock and mineral.  In this authors opinion a great rock and mineral book will have two or three examples of each rock and mineral it goes into discussion about.

One of my favorite books that I have used and continue to use is the book by Patti Polk “Collecting Rocks, Gems, and Minerals”.  I purchased this book at amazon.  It has some good short descriptions of the rocks and minerals and some very great pictures

Rock and Mineral Shops

You may be lucky to have a rock and mineral shop in your area.  A rock and mineral shop is exactly as it sounds.  A place to purchase rocks and minerals for rock and mineral collectors.

These shops will typically have some great specimens, sculptures, tools, and other rock and mineral collectables.  Expect to fork over some money if you wish to get something nice.  At times these shops will have some really great eye appealing stuff you may not be able to resist.

Rock and mineral shops can have some great information on rocks and minerals.  What better way to have information and the sample specimen right before you very eyes.  There are many samples and specimens that the rock and mineral shop owners may not mind you picking up and taking a good look.

The rock and mineral shop owners or personnel may likely be a great resource in helping you identify your rock or mineral.  If you bring in your specimen and show it to them, they may be able to help you identify it and tell you more about it.

Keep in mind though, if the rock or mineral you have is valuable, you may want to keep a lid on where you acquired it.  So think of that before you go divulging the location of where you found it.

These shop owners and personnel are in the rock and mineral business and likely enjoy rocks and minerals (quite a bit at that).  They can be very helpful if you are looking for some information on your rock or mineral.

Going to Rock and Mineral Shows

Rock and mineral shows do not come to every city or town.  If you are lucky to have one visit your city or a nearby city you may want to take some time to visit the show.  These rock and mineral shows will be a great resource in helping you identify your rock or mineral.

At these rock and mineral shows will exist many merchants selling their rocks or minerals as well as other things related.  Like a rock and mineral shop, the personnel can be very helpful with information as well has have many great examples at their tables for sale.

If you show them your rock or mineral, they may be able to help you identify it.  They could be busy making a sale or running their store though, so time your questions with them accordingly.  Many of them are just sitting there watching the people go buy looking at their wares so you may be able to get their attention without too much trouble.

Many rock and mineral shows are free, but there are some that require an admission fee.  If you plan on buying more rocks or minerals while trying to identify a rock or mineral in the process, paying a small fee may not be too bad.  If you are just looking to identify your rock or mineral and don’t plan to do any purchases, you may want to stick to the free rock and mineral shows.

Joining Rock and Mineral Clubs

Rock and mineral clubs can be a little more difficult to get some information from.  If you have access to its members, they can be quite a resource for helping you identify your rock or mineral.  A membership to a rock and mineral club will cost money.

If you are a person that loves rocks and minerals and has a membership with a rock and mineral club, you can bet that if you meet with other club members, they will have a thing or two to say about your rock and mineral.

One great thing about being in a rock and mineral club is not only the helpful resource of its members and their knowledge, but they often have mining claims you can get access to. 

This route would be for the rock and mineral collectors that like to engage in rock and mineral collecting, or rockhounding, more often.  Expect to pay in the hundreds of dollars to be a member in most rock and mineral clubs.

Local Museums

Not many of us have the luxury of a museum in or around our city.  Especially one dedicated to rocks or minerals.  Some general museums might have a rock and mineral section available. These sections might be helpful in identifying your rock or mineral.

If you are lucky, the museum will have that section with various rocks or minerals on display.  A museum dedicated to dinosaurs is available in my particular area. It has a great section on rocks and minerals with some very breathtaking specimens.

Museums may not be one of the best places to identify your rock or mineral but they can help.  Sometimes staff members may have information that can help.  The displays may also have a sentence or two about a rock or mineral that may help.

Again, being able to visually see the rock or mineral will be a great advantage. A picture will help you identify your rock or mineral.

I was able to identify these rare pieces of red beryl by data found on the internet stating I could find this mineral in the area.

Geological Surveys and Data

Data and geological surveys may not be something most people think of in helping identify a rock or mineral.  These will typically not involve visual images or a lot of information about a rock or mineral. The rock or mineral you have, will of course, need to have been found in the area.

Geological surveys and data can help as they contain written information about the rocks and minerals in an area.  This is where you can research your rock or mineral based on where you found it. 

In many cases you can find a lot of information. You may be able to identify your rock or mineral quite easily.  Of course, and again, this will not help you if you acquired the rock or mineral by some other means.

Most newcomers to rocks and minerals tend to think of rocks and minerals being one in the same.  They are not.  If you are newer to rocks and minerals and want to know more about the differences, read this great article on “What are the differences between rocks and minerals”.  More knowledge on rocks and minerals will help you in the future of identifying your rock or mineral.

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