How to tell if a rock is a meteorite
Heavy, magnetic and dark-crusted? Check the signs geologists list for meteorites, the features that rule one out, and who can confirm a find.
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Get to know the rocks you find
Practical ways to photograph, examine and record your specimens, with references you can follow when you want to learn more.
Follow new articles with RSSHow to tell if a rock is a geode
A round, knobby shell and a light feel for its size are good signs. See what those clues can’t tell you, and how to open a possible geode safely.
Read articlePyrite vs gold: how to tell the difference
Compare pyrite (fool's gold) vs gold by hardness, streak and crystal shape. Learn what to check in gold-colored grains and why testing nearby rock can mislead.
Read articleAgate vs jasper: how to tell the difference
Compare agate vs jasper by banding and translucency. Use a simple light check, understand its limits, and record the clues before naming your stone.
Read articleCan Google Lens identify rocks? What to check next
Use Google Lens to find possible rock names, then check the clues a photo cannot show and learn when a dedicated iPhone app helps.
Read articleCrystal face or cleavage? How to read a flat mineral surface
A crystal face forms as a mineral grows; a cleavage surface forms when it breaks along a plane of weakness. Repeated parallel steps point to cleavage.
Read articleMineral streak: what the powder color tells you
Learn what mineral streak reveals, why a white mark may come from the porcelain plate, and when to leave a specimen untested.
Read articleHow to photograph a rock for identification
Get clearer rock photos with simple changes to light, focus and scale, and keep the details that help someone identify your find.
Read articleMohs hardness for beginners: what a scratch test tells you
How a Mohs scratch test works: the ten reference minerals, the approximate hardness of a fingernail, copper, glass and steel, and how to read a result.
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