Cool Rocks to Collect: Best Collectable Rocks for Everyone
There are certainly plenty of rocks to collect on our earth. Many of you may have already started your collection, or have a large collection of rocks and are looking to add to it. Well, let me see if I can’t help to you in that rock collection of yours by providing you with some information on some very collectable rocks.
Before we get started in showing you some of the coolest rocks for collecting, there is a special note I need to make to all readers. Rocks and minerals are actually two different things.
In this article I am going to be talking about some of the coolest rocks for collecting. If you are interested in the collection of minerals, and I don’t know any who aren’t, there is this article I wrote; “Common Examples of Minerals“. This article goes over a few of the common minerals that are very collectable.
If that is not enough for you, then be sure to visit the “Rock and Mineral List” on this site where I detail many rocks and minerals including many of them I have listed below.
Rocks to Collect
Rocks to collect are pretty much everywhere around you. Collectable rocks are really those that are appealing to the eye of the collector themselves. Here are some of the coolest rocks to collect:
Septarian
Septarian is considered to be a limestone rock. This rock is highly collectable by many due to its very unique nature. Septarian has another unique name that is used quite often, “Dragon Stone” or “Dragon Egg”.
Septarian is often seen as septarian nodules in which you would cut open, much like a geode, to see the contents inside. There are not a lot of places to collect septarian in the field. The best way to collect this wonderful rock would be by purchasing it online or at a rock and mineral show.
Many example specimens of septarian can be quite affordable. It can get expensive when you start going for those larger more crystal rich center specimens.
Diorite
One of the more commonly known rocks to collect is diorite. Many know the existence of this rock purely due its inclusion in the popular game Minecraft. This rock has a very distinctive look with what is known as the “salt and pepper” look.
Diorite can vary in appearance depending on its mineral contents. The contrast of white and dark in the rock, as well as the potential to give some glitter and shine, makes this an easy rock to collect.
Did you know that diorite is used as a “granite” type countertop. They call many rocks granite in the countertop industry, but many of them are not really granite.
Lapis Lazuli
This rock is very collectable due to its blue color. Lapis lazuli rock contains a few different minerals within it. The blue contents come from what is known as lazurite, which is a mineral. You will often also see the minerals calcite and even pyrite within lapis lazuli rock.
Lapis lazuli will often be confused with the mineral Sodalite. In fact there are some out there that will sell sodalite under the deception of it being lapis lazuli. One way to keep from being deceived from this, is to note the small inclusions of pyrite within the lapis lazuli rock.
Lapis lazuli is a very affordable rock to collect, and this rock is often cut and put into jewelry as well.
Obsidian
Contrary to what some video games might put out there, obsidian is not this extremally impenetrable rock they depict it to be. However, obsidian is considered to be natures glass, and if broken in the right way it can be sharper than a razor blade.
Handling chipped or broken pieces of obsidian should be done with caution. Aside from that, obsidian is quite the rock to collect for many people. Not only does the smooth rock come as a black color, but it can have a few different varieties that include mahogany obsidian and even snowflake obsidian.
Obsidian is very affordable and its glassy and smooth surfaces make it a very popular collectable rock.
Geodes
I don’t know anyone interested in rocks and minerals that are not eager to collect a few geodes as well. Geodes are considered a rock with a cavity, or pocket of air, within. The contents within that cavity are what give a geode a high priority in ones rock collection.
Many geodes contents will consist of quartz crystals, chalcedony, and/or calcite. If you wish to collect geodes in the field, remember that you will need to have a means to crack open those geodes. Otherwise, many rock and mineral shops and shows will sell geodes. Be cautious if you are looking for authentic geodes to collect, many geodes out there being sold are manufactured.
If you are interested in cracking open your own geodes, I have a great article “How to Crack a Geode Open With and Without Tools” to help you in that process.
Tiger’s Eye
Tiger’s Eye is a rock that often looks like wood. When polished it can really set a nice shine and makes for a great collectable rock. An interesting bit of information about tiger’s eye is that it is part of the quartz group.
Being a part of the quartz group means tiger’s eye is very hard and can be cut into shapes and polished up. Many like to collect tiger’s eye as jewelry. You can often find tiger’s eye in rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets.
That honey color and wood look make tiger’s eye a nice part of ones rock and mineral collection.
Sandstone
Some sandstones, in my thoughts, are really not too exciting to collect due to plainness of their color. However, there are many different varieties of sandstone that carry very interesting reds, yellows, browns, and oranges. Many of these types of sandstone will have multiple banding of these colors, which make it easy to want to collect this rock.
Sandstone is often used as a decorative inclusion in landscaping and also in building. One of my favorite types of sandstone is what is know as “picture sandstone”. The colors and the banding make this form of sandstone very desirable to collect.
Some sandstone creations or specimens can get a little pricy to collect. At some rock and mineral shows, I have often almost bought a carved out sandstone that looks like majestic sandstone scene you would see at Arches National Park, in Utah. I have a hard time justifying the over $100 price tag though. One day maybe…
Wonderstone
Wonderstone is a type of rhyolite rock that many do not know about. This rock almost looks like a sandstone but it is not. Wonderstone rock will have very intricate and distinct banded patterns within the rock. The more reds, yellows, and browns that are banded within the rock, the better.
Since I live in Utah, there are actually a couple of different locations I can go and collect this rock. One sad point though, is that the one location I do go to is getting picked over pretty good. It is becoming more difficult to find larger specimens of this very colorful and beautiful rock.
Scoria
Scoria, to me, is a fairly plain looking rock. I think the attraction to this rock for many is the many holes and cavities that exist within it. Sometimes you can find crystals within those holes as well, which can increase the collectability of this rock.
This popular rock for landscaping is seen in many yards, parks, and other locations. Often, kids will walk by these places and pick out a couple of these holy rocks and bring them home for their collection.
I don’t often see many options for purchasing scoria in rock shops or rock and mineral shows. With the abundance of this rock around, it is not uncommon for kids at least, to have one of these in their collection.
Pumice
Pumice which can look much like scoria, is another collectable rock that does not have much eye appeal. It has many small holes or cavities within it, much smaller than scoria.
The big appeal for this rock is not so much in its look, but in that it is one of the few rocks that can float. This rock is visually deceptive in that it looks like a rock but is quite light to hold.
For a great read on the differences between Scoria and Pumice, visit my article here; “Four Main Differences Between Scoria and Pumice“
Chert
Chert is a pretty unique rock in that it can have smooth edges and also have some cool colors to go with it. Many will collect chert because it does feel smooth to the touch on its sides. Chert can come in lighter colors or darker colors.
Some of my favorite chert is when you see some reds and browns in there in a sort of layered pattern. These rocks can be quite abundant in some areas around the world. Luckily you might find this rock in rock shops and rock and mineral shows.
A unique fact about chert is it is much like Flint. Strike some steel across it and what happens?
Anyolite
This rock really looks like a mineral but is actually metamorphic rock containing zoisite, pargasite, and ruby. Anyolite is one of the more popular rocks to collect due to the colorful green with the red and black contained within it.
Many like the red blotches of ruby within the rock as you don’t see this pattern often in rocks. This rock is not too costly and can be purchased for a fairly cheap price for smaller specimens.
Personally, I have not yet bought any of this as I am a bit of a diehard. I would like to go out and look for it somewhere, as I do with most rocks and minerals. Anyolite, being one of the favorite rocks to collect for many, would make a great addition to any rock collection.
Quartzite
Quartzite is a pretty neat rock to collect. This rock is considered to be one of the hardest rocks, as it is full of the mineral quartz. What makes this rock quite special to many is the way it glistens in the light. All that sparkly quartz within quartzite can really give off a nice sparkle in the sunlight.
This is one of the easier rocks to collect as it is quite abundant. Kids will often find these rocks in yards and other places in their nearby area. I would like to think that many parent’s will see this rock at some point in time in their home.
This rock is not too often available at rock shops or rock and mineral shows. Rest assured though, you go on a camping trip somewhere and this rock may just be on the ground near by.
Gneiss
To some, Gneiss is not really that special. I however, like the specimens of this rock where you can see the obvious foliation within it. Usually the colors are not to spectacular with this rock, but the defined bands of white, browns, grays, and black really make this rock look cool.
This rock is not always available out in your nearby area. If you see it though, it will be quite obvious that is is special. I don’t have much of this in my collection, however I do have a few big specimens, yard rocks, that are pretty cool to look at.
Rhyolite
Rhyolite can be one of my favorite cool rocks to collect. As I mentioned and talked about wonderstone above, I love the colors that can end up in different types of rhyolite.
Another great thing about rhyolite is the potential for minerals to be contained within the pockets and holes in the rock. One of my favorite rhyolite specimens has purple banding on the rock. Within the pockets of this rock contains smaller amethyst crystals in a very nice light purple.
