A fun introduction to the world of geology through metamorphic rocks! Metamorphic rocks were once another type of rock but have been transformed through high heat and pressure. Each Tech Cut specimen is selected and hand processed, ensuring each sample exhibits defining features. Set includes…

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.…

Calcite is made up of calcium carbonate. It can grow into rocks, animal shells, chalk, & translucent, rhombic minerals Being one of just a few minerals that is effervesce in acid, Calcite is great for demonstrating chemical reactions. This universally useful mineral can also be used to demonstrate…

Pack of 12 Corundum samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size Great for studying mineral hardness and crystal habit - only diamond is harder! Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science Standards Evidence Statements Ideal for…

Anthracite coal is bright and reflective, indicative of the intense heat and pressure required to form it. Anthracite coal often has a favorable purity ratio, containing mostly organic material and relatively few impurities Ideal for identification & classification exercises. Allows students can…

Found within igneous and metamorphic rocks. Biotite mica's sheet like appearance and glassy luster make this mineral easy to identify Mica's thin and layered structure is perfect for demonstrating variable hardness and cleavage, physical properties of minerals, as well as Bowen's reaction series.…

Marble is a metamorphic rock formed from limestone. The high-pressure, low-heat alteration leads to a massive crystalline rock that can form a variety of shapes. Marble is mined heavily for use in buildings and furniture, and has traditionally been used in architecture as well. Though much denser…

This foliated metamorphic rock usually forms at convergent plate boundaries, and recrystallizes with immense heat and pressure Excellent for students learning about differential stresses and foliation in metamorphic rocks. This set of twelve samples is excellent for group study and examination …

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…

This naturally magnetized mineral creates it's own magnetic field and can pick up small metal objects. Iron particles cover its surface. As an iron oxide, lodestone has a characteristic black color, and may feature rusty patches of yellow or orange An excellent introductory mineral, and useful in…

Halite is commonly known as table salt. This soft, white to transparent mineral grows into cleavable cubes Useful for lessons in cleavage planes and how evaporite deposits form in nature. This mineral is an excellent example of cubic cleavage - when broken Halite will continually break into…

Pack of 12 Diorite samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size Presence of both mafic and felsic minerals make diorite a perfect example of intermediate igneous chemistry Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science Standards Evidence…

Peridotite is an iron-rich ultramafic rock, with a chemistry that suggests genesis from a point deep within the crust, possibly as deep as the mantle. The large crystals indicate slow cooling within a magma chamber Ideal for identification & classification exercises. This fascinating sample is…

Pack of 12 Sulfur samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size Great for students learning about streak tests - sulfur leaves an unexpected white streak Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science Standards Evidence Statements Ideal…

Galena grows in beautiful metallic cubes. Often refined as lead ore, galena can also be used to teach students about a mineral's luster, streak, and cleavage. Because of the lead in the chemical formula, it is much denser than other minerals, which makes it seem unnaturally heavy for its size …

Granite forms slowly in shallow or evolved magma chambers, and is also commonly found as magmatic intrusions in the crust. The large crystals are indicative of a slow cooling rate, and make mineral identification simple A must-have sample when discussing rock types, the rock cycle, and the…

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…

The rock cycle explains how different types of rocks relate to one another. This kit includes twelve different rocks which represent the types of rocks that are formed during the rock cycle. Packaged in a box with substantial protective padding for each individual rock to preserve specimens The…

Pack of 12 Albite samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size Used as a hardness standard of 6, and exhibits two planes of cleavage Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science Standards Evidence Statements Great samples for use in…

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…

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…

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…

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…

A fun introduction to the world of geology through igneous rocks! Igneous rocks are formed when magma or lava cools and solidifies. Each Tech Cut specimen is selected and hand processed, ensuring each sample exhibits defining features. Set includes twelve different igneous rocks - Quartz Point,…

Pack of 12 Siltstone samples approximately 1" (3cm) in size Clastic sedimentary rock made up of fine silt particles Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science Standards Evidence Statements Good sample for use in identifying…

Formed from limestone, this high pressure, low heat alteration leads to a large crystalline rock. Heavily mined for architecture, marble is also used for buildings and furniture While denser than limestone, marble is still effervesce in acid, making this metamorphic rock useful in identification…

Travertine is a carbonate rock formed from gushing hot springs. The airy, porous material indicates an abundance of air bubbles moving through the rock as it solidified. While this characteristic is normally reserved for igneous rocks, travertine is unique in that it forms as a result of rapidly…

Sandstone is made up of well-sorted and well-rounded grains of quartz. This indicates that the clasts in the rocks have traveled a long distance from their source and were heavily eroded along the way. This sample is red due to the inclusion of iron in the chemical structure of the rock. This…

Gabbro is formed within magma chambers, deep within the earth. The chambers hold iron-rich rock melt, too heavy to reach the surface. As the melt cools, olivine and plagioclase feldspar forms A great example of phaneritic mafic rock. Useful for exercises in identification and classification of…

The massive, gray variety of limestone is often found deposited in marine environments. It is made up of organic material, primarily calcium carbonate Excellent for demonstrating the tendency of calcium carbonate to effervesce in acid, and is perfect for identification and classification…

Hematite is made up of iron and oxygen, giving it a distinct red, earthy color. Although hematite can form in a variety of appearances, this mineral is instantly recognized by the reddish brown streak it leaves behind when powdered Ideal for identification & classification exercises. Ideal for…

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…