TECH CUT Rocks and Minerals

BIOTITE MICA | Found within igneous and metamorphic rocks. Biotite mica's sheet like appearance and glassy luster make this mineral easy to identi...

BIOTITE MICA | Found within igneous and metamorphic rocks. Biotite mica's sheet like appearance and glassy luster make this mineral easy to identi...

CALCITE | Calcite is made up of calcium carbonate. It can grow into rocks, animal shells, chalk, & translucent, rhombic minerals GREAT FOR GEO...

CALCITE | Calcite is made up of calcium carbonate. It can grow into rocks, animal shells, chalk, & translucent, rhombic minerals GREAT FOR GEO...

Corundum sample approximately 1" (3cm) in size Great for studying mineral hardness and crystal habit - only diamond is harder! Perfect...

Twelve corundum samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size Great for studying mineral hardness and crystal habit - only diamond is harder! ...

FLUORITE | Fluorite can be transparent or come in a variety of colors, such as purple, green & blue. Fluorite is a common mineral in both carb...

FLUORITE | Fluorite can be transparent or come in a variety of colors, such as purple, green & blue. Fluorite is a common mineral in both carb...

GALENA | Galena grows in beautiful metallic cubes. Often refined as lead ore, galena can also be used to teach students about a mineral's luster, ...

GALENA | Galena grows in beautiful metallic cubes. Often refined as lead ore, galena can also be used to teach students about a mineral's luster, ...

HALITE | Halite is commonly known as table salt. This soft, white to transparent mineral grows into cleavable cubes GREAT FOR GEOLOGY CLASSROOMS |...

HALITE | Halite is commonly known as table salt. This soft, white to transparent mineral grows into cleavable cubes GREAT FOR GEOLOGY CLASSROOMS |...

HEMATITE | Hematite is made up of iron and oxygen, giving it a distinct red, earthy color. Although hematite can form in a variety of appearances,...

HEMATITE | Hematite is made up of iron and oxygen, giving it a distinct red, earthy color. Although hematite can form in a variety of appearances,...

MAGNETITE | Magnetite forms as an accessory mineral from an igneous melt. As it cools, the iron in its atomic structure becomes magnetized GREAT F...

MAGNETITE | Magnetite forms as an accessory mineral from an igneous melt. As it cools, the iron in its atomic structure becomes magnetized GREAT F...

MICROCLINE | One of the most common minerals in the earth's crust, feldspar has a variety of physical properties that make it a quintessential min...

MICROCLINE | One of the most common minerals in the earth's crust, feldspar has a variety of physical properties that make it a quintessential min...

MILKY QUARTZ | One of the most abundant minerals on Earth. The tightly packed framework of silica tetrahedral that makes up this mineral gives it ...

MILKY QUARTZ | One of the most abundant minerals on Earth. The tightly packed framework of silica tetrahedral that makes up this mineral gives it ...

MUSCOVITE MICA | Muscovite mica is a mineral that forms from cooling magma. It forms in thin sheets that are individually weak, but comprehensivel...

MUSCOVITE MICA | Muscovite mica is a mineral that forms from cooling magma. It forms in thin sheets that are individually weak, but comprehensivel...

Raw Obsidian SpecimenSingle Sample, 1" OBSIDIAN | Obsidian, also known as volcanic glass, forms from lava that cools almost immediately upon eru...

OBSIDIAN | Obsidian, also known as volcanic glass, forms from lava that cools almost immediately upon eruption, usually into water GREAT FOR GEOLO...

OLIVINE | Much of the earth's surface is covered in oceanic crust, of which olivine is a major component. With the highest crystallization tempera...

OLIVINE | Much of the earth's surface is covered in oceanic crust, of which olivine is a major component. With the highest crystallization tempera...

PORPHYRITIC GRANITE | Granite forms slowly in shallow or evolved magma chambers, and is also commonly found as magmatic intrusions in the crust. T...

PORPHYRITIC GRANITE | Granite forms slowly in shallow or evolved magma chambers, and is also commonly found as magmatic intrusions in the crust. T...

PYRITE | Pyrite forms as hot water flows through fractures in subsurface rock. This deposition method allows pyrite to replace other minerals or f...

PYRITE | Pyrite forms as hot water flows through fractures in subsurface rock. This deposition method allows pyrite to replace other minerals or f...

QUARTZ | One of the most abundant minerals on Earth. The tightly packed framework of silica tetrahedral that makes up this mineral gives it a high...

QUARTZ | One of the most abundant minerals on Earth. The tightly packed framework of silica tetrahedral that makes up this mineral gives it a high...

RED SANDSTONE | Sandstone is made up of well-sorted and well-rounded grains of quartz. This indicates that the clasts in the rocks have traveled a...

RED SANDSTONE | Sandstone is made up of well-sorted and well-rounded grains of quartz. This indicates that the clasts in the rocks have traveled a...

SCORIA | Scoria forms as spatter from bubbly, mafic lava is thrown into the air and cooled quickly. The crystallization happens so quickly that la...

SCORIA | Scoria forms as spatter from bubbly, mafic lava is thrown into the air and cooled quickly. The crystallization happens so quickly that la...

HEMATITE | This specular variety of hematite takes the form of tiny, sparkling iron oxide crystals GREAT FOR GEOLOGY CLASSROOMS | Perfect for demo...

SOAPSTONE | Through the process of metasomatism, hot fluid infiltrates the atomic structure of other silicate minerals, altering them to form soap...

SOAPSTONE | Through the process of metasomatism, hot fluid infiltrates the atomic structure of other silicate minerals, altering them to form soap...

Albite sample approximately 1" (3cm) in size Used as a hardness standard of 6, and exhibits two planes of cleavage Perfect size for use in classro...

Albite sample approximately 1" (3cm) in size Used as a hardness standard of 6, and exhibits two planes of cleavage Perfect size for use in classro...

GARNET | Garnet comes in a variety of colors & shapes - this specimen is a deep red color. Garnet forms under intense heat and pressure condit...

GARNET | Garnet comes in a variety of colors & shapes - this specimen is a deep red color. Garnet forms under intense heat and pressure condit...

Limonite sample approximately 1" (3cm) in size Rusty color indicative of ongoing oxidation Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs a...

Limonite sample approximately 1" (3cm) in size Rusty color indicative of ongoing oxidation Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs a...

LODESTONE | This naturally magnetized mineral creates it's own magnetic field and can pick up small metal objects. Iron particles cover its surfac...

LODESTONE | This naturally magnetized mineral creates it's own magnetic field and can pick up small metal objects. Iron particles cover its surfac...

Oligoclase sample approximately 1" (3cm) in size Standard hardness of 6, exhibits two planes of cleavage Perfect size for use in classroom identif...