Specimens

COARSE WHITE MARBLE | Marble is a metamorphic rock formed from limestone. The high-pressure, low-heat alteration leads to a massive crystalline ro...

OOLITIC LIMESTONE | Oolitic limestone is a carbonate rock formed from the cementation of thousands of ooids. Ooids are tiny nodules formed from th...

ANDESITE | Andesite features abundant phenocrysts in a fine grained matrix, and offers a great demonstration of igneous porphyry GREAT FOR GEOLOGY...

ANTHRACITE COAL | Anthracite coal is bright and reflective, indicative of the intense heat and pressure required to form it. Anthracite coal often...

AUGITE | A common rock-forming pyroxene mineral that forms as magma is cooling. It is an imperative sample for lessons on Bowen's reaction series ...

BRECCIA | The large, angular clasts in breccia make it possible to confidently ascertain the depositional history of the rock GREAT FOR GEOLOGY CL...

CARBONACEOUS SHALE | Shale is formed from the cementation and lithification of very small grains of rock, commonly mud or clay. The black color of...

CHLORITE | Chlorite is a metamorphic mineral that has undergone light alteration. During metasomatism, phyllosilicate minerals may become hydrated...

COQUINA | Composed of bone and shell fragments, coquina is nearly 100% fossil matter. Held together by a carbonate cement, this skeletal mass form...

DIORITE | The minerals within diorite can be readily identified due to their large size, and by comparing the relative abundance of each mineral, ...

DOLOSTONE | Composed primarily of carbonate material, dolostone is a more stalwart rock than its chemical cousin, limestone. It is often mined fo...

GARNET SCHIST | A metamorphic rock that has undergone moderate levels of alteration, schist is good for demonstrating the effect of metamorphism o...

GREEN SLATE | Slate is very lightly metamorphosed and well-foliated. This appearance often makes it difficult to distinguish from its parent rock,...

GREYWACKE | Graywacke is a sedimentary rock composed of large, angular clasts within a fine-grained clay matrix. Formed during underwater avalanch...

GYPSUM | A sulfate mineral that often forms from evaporating lakes in what is known as an evaporite deposit. Crystals grow into soft, wide sheets,...

HORNBLENDE | Hornblende is part of a group of minerals known as amphiboles. These minerals are chemically and structurally similar to pyroxenes, b...

PHYLLITE | Phyllite is a good example of low-grade metamorphism from an easily recognizable parent rock. The fissile property of slate is retained...

RED SLATE | Slate is very lightly metamorphosed and well-foliated. This appearance often makes it difficult to distinguish from its parent rock, s...

SULFUR | Sulfur is a popular mineral that forms as a soft precipitate near volcanic vents and springs. This bright yellow mineral has a distinct s...

WHITE QUARTZITE | Quartzite is formed from sandstone that has been tightly compressed to the point where the clasts have recrystallized to form a ...

BIOTITE GNEISS | This foliated metamorphic rock usually forms at convergent plate boundaries, and recrystallizes with immense heat and pressure GR...

BITUMINOUS COAL | Coal is formed within anoxic environments from compressed organic matter, and a worldwide source of fuel. Its vitreous sheen mak...

FINE WHITE MARBLE | Formed from limestone, this high pressure, low heat alteration leads to a large crystalline rock. Heavily mined for architectu...

APATITE | Apatite is one of the few common phosphate minerals. While often found as an accessory mineral in igneous rock, it is also found as conc...

BASALT | Basalt makes up a large majority of the earth's oceanic crust. Formed quickly from a magma that is rich in iron, basalt exhibits a dark c...

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...

CHERT | Sometimes referred to as flint, Chert is a sedimentary rock rich in silica GREAT FOR GEOLOGY CLASSROOMS | This specimen is perfect for tea...

CONGLOMERATE | The large clasts in conglomerate indicate that the pieces of rock underwent a large amount of rolling, bouncing, and other weatheri...

DOLOMITE | Though similar to calcite, the inclusion of magnesium in the chemistry of Dolomite makes it a more robust & stable mineral GREAT FO...

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...

FOSSILIFEROUS LIMESTONE | This rock formed at the bottom of a marine environment through the compaction of deceased organic matter in a clay or si...

GABBRO | Gabbro is formed within magma chambers, deep within the earth. The chambers hold iron-rich rock melt, too heavy to reach the surface. As ...

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, ...

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

GRAPHITE | The same material found in pencils- graphite. This lustrous mass of carbon is an excellent example of how atomic structure can complete...

GRAY LIMESTONE | The massive, gray variety of limestone is often found deposited in marine environments. It is made up of organic material, primar...

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

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

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,...

LABRADORITE | Labradorite is a variety of plagioclase feldspar, intermediate between anorthite and albite. Notable about this species of feldspar ...

LIMESTONE CHALK | Limestone is made up of organic material, primarily calcium carbonate. The chalk variety consists of the shells of coccolithopho...

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

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

MICA SCHIST | A metamorphic rock that has undergone moderate levels of alteration, schist is good for demonstrating the effect of metamorphism on ...

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 ...

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