Rocks and minerals

Rocks and minerals Scratch Test | 2 Simple Investigations to test rock hardness. Great for multiple ages this summer!

Want to impress your friend with your rock knowledge? Here are 30 types of rocks that you ought to know to get you started.

Every rockhound loves a good geode, and the best are those we’ve gathered ourselves. While it can be tempting to start busting every rock you find with a rock pick, you can usually tell before you attack. Geodes are a specific formation and can usually be identified by their round shape and bumpy texture. These reliable indicators don’t tell the whole story, however. So, let’s go a bit further and give you an overview of how to tell if a rock is a geode.

Stunning spessartine garnet (Collection: Kovács Attila. FOV:6mm Credit: Tóth László ©, via Mineral Joy)

Here is the ultimate list of the top rock collecting sites in the US! Included is info on what you'll find and many other tips for each location.

Science is usually an easy subject to make exciting and interesting for students. However, there are some science topics that can be a little...shall we say...dry. Teaching rocks and minerals can most definitely be a dry science topic, but - it doesn't have to be!&am