ThoughtCo: Picture Guide to Common and Less-Common Minerals

Identify Your Specimens with This Master Photo Guide

If you’re interested in rock collecting, you know that rocks you find in the real world rarely look like the polished specimens you see you rock shops or museums. In this index, you’ll find pictures of minerals like those you’ll most likely encounter in your expeditions.

This list starts with the handful of common minerals called the rock-forming minerals, followed by the most common accessory minerals—you’ll find them scattered in many different rocks but seldom in large amounts.

Next, you’ll see a set of rare or notable minerals, some of which are common in commercial rock shops.

Finally, you can check out some special galleries designed to help you to identify your specimens.


Science Topics
Geology
K-6, Middle School, High School
4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade

What are you looking for?

Organization

ThoughtCo.

Website URL

Type of Resource

Article

Assigned Categories