Education Geology

Obsidian, also known as volcanic glass, forms from lava that cools almost immediately upon eruption, usually into water Obsidian shares many physical properties with its major chemical component, quartz, despite looking dissimilar - great for classification exercises. This set of twelve samples is...

Garnet comes in a variety of colors & shapes - this specimen is a deep red color. Garnet forms under intense heat and pressure conditions, making it a common mineral in mountainous terranes Ideal for identification & classification exercises. Great for lessons in metamorphic facies & silicate...

Sometimes referred to as flint, Chert is a sedimentary rock rich in silica This specimen is perfect for teaching geology students about the many forms of quartz, hardness, crystal habit, and fracture. This set of twelve samples is excellent for group study and examination Each specimen is selected...

Apatite is one of the few common phosphate minerals. While often found as an accessory mineral in igneous rock, it is also found as concretions or detrital clasts in sedimentary rocks With a standard Mohs hardness of 5, and it's relatively uncommon crystal habit, Apatite is excellent for mineralogy...

Pack of 12 Augen gneiss samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size Ideal for students learning about differential stresses and foliation in metamorphic rocks Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science Standards Evidence Statements...

Limestone is made up of organic material, primarily calcium carbonate. The chalk variety consists of the shells of coccolithophores, small platy animals that stack together and powder easily. Large layers of chalk indicate a low-oxygen environment, most likely ancient seafloor beds Ideal for...

When clay- and aluminum-rich rock is altered by water from geothermal systems, serpentinite is liable to form. Often found in low-grade metamorphic areas, serpentinite is composed of hydrated silicate minerals, particularly phyllosilicates Ideal for identification & classification exercises....

Labradorite is a variety of plagioclase feldspar, intermediate between anorthite and albite. Notable about this species of feldspar is its potential for iridescence Ideal for identification & classification exercises. Samples with clean crystal faces, when exposed to light, have a tendency to gleam...

Pumice is formed from the frothy lava that a volcanic explosion creates. As the frothy lava cools, it hardens as a light weight rock that is filled with small gas bubbles. Because this rock is so porous and light, it can actually float on water Perfect for demonstrating the effect of vesicles on...

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 color and small crystal size The perfect example of an aphanitic igneous rock. Useful for lessons in igneous rock classification and identification. This set of...

Fluorite can be transparent or come in a variety of colors, such as purple, green & blue. Fluorite is a common mineral in both carbonate and hydrothermal rocks Fluorite is perfect for hands on lessons in hardness, as well as the fickle method of identifying minerals by color. An excellent example...

Quartzite is formed from sandstone that has been tightly compressed to the point where the clasts have recrystallized to form a new rock. This formation mechanism, coupled the inherent strength of quartz, makes quartzite a very durable rock. Useful in the classroom for lessons on metamorphic rocks....

Includes twelve streak plates. Great for group activities Used to determine a mineral's color in powder form, or to identify the mineral content of a rock. Great for geology and earth science classrooms Streak plates can be cleaned and reused again and again Each plate is made of unglazed porcelain...

Pack of 12 Quartzite samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size The further compaction of sandstone's sturdy silicate framework makes quartzite one of the most durable rocks on the planet Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science...

Pack of 12 Hornfels samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size Formed at the baked contact between an intruding igneous body and the surrounding rock Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science Standards Evidence Statements Great for...

Rhyolite is an aphanitic felsic rock which forms during eruptions of thick, viscous magma. Often containing phenocrysts of felsic minerals with only slightly higher crystallization temperatures than the feldspar and quartz that forms rhyolite Ideal for identification & classification exercises. The...

Pack of 12 Carbonaceous shale samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size Carbon within samples indicates it was deposited in an anoxic environment, such as the deep sea Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science Standards Evidence...

A fun introduction to the world of geology through rocks and minerals. Set includes twelve different rocks and minerals - Crystal Quartz, Basalt, Breccia, Biotite Gneiss, Fluorite, Granite, Conglomerate, Marble, Apatite, Scoria, Sandstone, and Slate. While each specimen will vary in shape and size,...

Augite is a common rock-forming pyroxene mineral that forms as magma is cooling. It is an imperative sample for lessons on Bowen's reaction series Augite's perpendicular planes of cleavages make it an excellent tool for studying 2-plane, 90° cleavage Each specimen is selected and hand processed,...

Slate is the result of the compression of shale, but is denser and retains the fissile properties, making for an interesting exercise when distinguishing between the two rocks Ideal for exercises in metamorphic rock identification due to its recognizable platy foliation. This set of twelve samples...

One of the most common minerals in the earth's crust, feldspar has a variety of physical properties that make it a quintessential mineral to study. It distinctly shows two planes of cleavage & is part of Bowen's reaction series Great for lessons in hardness, cleavage, and crystallization...

Pack of 12 Coquina samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size Mass of fossilized animal material Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science Standards Evidence Statements Individual fossils can be studied and identified within the rock...

Graywacke is a sedimentary rock composed of large, angular clasts within a fine-grained clay matrix. Formed during underwater avalanches, these rocks are often found on distal ocean shelves Ideal for identification & classification exercises. Useful when digging deeply into sedimentary petrology ....

The large clasts in conglomerate indicate that the pieces of rock underwent a large amount of rolling, bouncing, and other weathering to become round. This implies deposition in a river far from the source of the clasts Ideal for teaching students about rounding and sorting, as well as for...