Rock & Mineral Identifier

Found a rock? Run a few simple tests with things you have at home and see which specimens match best. Skip anything you're not sure about.

1. Does it look like metal?

2. Scratch test

Try a fingernail, then a steel knife, then try scratching a glass bottle with it.

3. Main color

4. Does it fizz in vinegar or dilute acid?

Carbonates like calcite and limestone bubble.

5. Does a magnet stick to it?

6. Crystal or rock?

Rocks are mixtures: speckles, grains, layers, pebbles or bubbles.

Answer a few questions to narrow it down

This is a rough guide built from simple field tests. Many specimens need a lab or an expert to confirm.