Rock Identification Made Easy
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- Опубліковано 5 лип 2024
- I know this isn't the most scientific way to identify a rock, but it gets the job done in most instances, and it's what I have been doing with great success for some time now.
If you found this video helpful, please consider subscribing and share it next time you see someone struggling to identify a rock.
Mohs' Hardness Test Kit
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A Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals
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Rocks & Minerals of Washington and Oregon
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Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals
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0:00 - Intro
1:30 - Origin
2:15 - Magnetic
2:40 - Metallic
3:08 - Hardness
8:00 - Books
10:53 - Gravity
13:56 - Luster
14:34 - Color
16:10 - Grain
17:20 - Recap
Did you enjoy this video and find it to be informative? You can help ensure that more videos just like this get made by supporting the project on Patreon. www.patreon.com/currentlyrockhounding
You are a born teacher. You understand what people might be puzzled by without being condescending. Thank you.
Thank you.
Agreed and he's "keepin' it real"!!
@@CurrentlyRockhoundinggreat video will definately sub and check out your channel 👍🏻 i thought from the beginning either chert or yellow/brown jasper depending on 'WHO 'you ask lol it's a big debate but i say jasper because chert tends to have a less waxy and more 'dull rock' type of luster but both take on the same sort of finish when fully polished or tumbled!
I been studying and collecting rocks and minerals for over 35 years.
The Peterson field guide series is one of the best. You just have to know how to use the key.
But for general purposes the books you showed are good
You did a great job explaing.
You rock, dude... crystal clear instructions and solid format to follow. I won't take your wisdom for granite
I'm happy to help.
fracture and crystal shape helps a ton too. I hunt for crystals, minerals gemstones etc.. and as you probably already know color is probably the least useful thing to idenitfy something because soooo many rocks and minerals share same coloring so what helps me is looking at the fracture and crystal habit. like clear flourite and clear quartz can look identical but when u look at the crystal shapes flourite is triangular and quartz is 6 sided like the shape of a pencil. hope that made sense. the streak helps a ton too. hematite comes in all types of colors but the streak will always be red. great video! im not writing this to say your way isnt right just adding a couple things that help me.
I know this might be a long video but I think it will help a lot of people. A topic often talked about (especially in facebook groups) is rock and mineral identification. Most of what I see is people asking for a rock to be identified, and people throwing out guesses with no thought or consideration put into the process of actually identifying something. This is how I do it.
If you have any advice on how I could improve my rock identification process I would love to hear it.
Thanks i enjoy your videos.
I'm happy you like them. Thanks for watching!
Currently Rockhounding awesome thank you 😊❤️✌🏻💙
Me too!
@currently rockhounding
Minsocam.org mineral identification key is an amazing resource. It goes through a series of steps/questions that end with possibilities based on your answers. Step/question 1: is it metallic or submetalic? If you answer yes it takes you to the next question; will it leave a mark on a piece of paper (hardness off less than 2.5)? If your answer to question 1 is no it asks about streak. And so on. Most are yes or no questions though there are a couple that aren’t. Anyway, it’s super helpful, thought I’d share. Be safe, have fun, and don’t lick rocks!(my motto lol)
I am a slow learner. It took watching 4 or 5 of your videos, before I learned I should subscribe. Great info btw.
Welcome!
Another way to test if its magnetic (or at least attracted to a magnet) is to get a container of water and a sturdy piece of styrofoam.
Place the rock on the styrofoam with the styrofoam on the water and place the magnet just on the side of the rock but don't touch it. If there is anything that would be attracted to a magnet in the minerals make-up, the stone should move towards the magnet.
With it being on styrofoam in water, there is virtually no resistance.
Also...you do great in your videos. You speak way better than I do! Haha
Okay, I'm going to try that for the fun of it!
I have a little practice at this point talking to a camera.
That would be a fun project for kids who are interested in learning about rocks.
I thought for the longest time that Mohs measure of hardness was repetitive wording because I was under the impression that MoH stood for Measure of Hardness; Come to find out, the creator of the qualitive scale was a dood named Carl Mohs which is an awesome coincidence.
It is a fun fact for sure. I also think its kind of neat to think about a time not that long ago when we didn't have a universally accepted standard for minerals hardness.
Your videos that I've seen in the brief time since I found your channel are never too long. I can watch and listen to you for a long while, then I hit the books I have to continue the learning process you have started us on. Thank you for your time and sharing your experiences & knowledge!
I'm happy you like the videos.
Your articulation is perfectly imperfect. Your enthusiasm comes out and that's why we're all here.
Thank you!
How mach
This was a great video. Not to much talk about nonrelevant stuff. Very imformative. Thank You
I'm glad you liked it.
Nice instructional video. I live in the Flint hills of Kansas and I see a lot of material that looks similar to your specimen. I find identifying flint, chert and jasper to be somewhat tricky just by looking at it. You did an excellent job of identifying the nuances.
Thank you!
Thanks, just starting out, this was very helpful.
Wow! I learned so much in your video. I'm never going to look at rocks the same way. What I like the most is that if I want to identify one, I have the method to find out. Thank you.
I'm glad you liked it.
youre right. details in the eye of the beholder. i was gonna say its orange, you said its brown lol
Extremely helpful video!
Thanks Jared!
I'm glad you liked it!
This was great. I wondered if it was chert, but glad to see it was narrowed down to Jasper. It tells me that you cannot go by your eye alone. Love your channel. Cannot see why anyone would criticize your calculator usage. Every one seems different to me!! Waiting patiently for your next video. 💎👍
As always, great video! I really appreciate the section about the specific gravity.
Thank you.
I thought it was chert and you hit home with how it is easy to confuse specimens if you don’t check your many factors. Thanks!!!
Good info for sure. I called it right for a change. I am glad you showed the specific gravity test. I had forgotten how that was done. Nice vid Jared and as usual havagudun my friend.
Thanks buddy!
Great video Jared! Loved it! My favorite part was the specific gravity.👍 💯 💥
Thank you!
Excellent video!
Great and realistic for all, step-by-step instructions.
I had a grasp of the basic concept of specific gravity, but now know how to find it with simple tools - Thanks!
I'm glad you found it useful.
Great down to earth and straight forward video. This is the kind of thing that is great for people just starting out that aren't looking to jump right into full-on scientific research. Yeah, it's probably Jasper. Yeah, it may not be, but sometimes 'close enough' is all you need. Great explanation and demonstration on specific gravity also.
Thank you, there surely is a time and place for scientific research but for most people I think they just want to know what is the rock they found and if you can't get an exact ID on it lets get close enough.
Really helpful. Thanks for the detailed explanation!
This is the video I have been looking for. Thank you
I'm glad you liked it, I have a fun website full of things like this you might enjoy.
Planning my first rockhounding trip in Georgia. Thank you so much!
I'm glad you liked it.
OUtstanding video .. thank you for putting it together .. sheds light on identification in ways I had never thought of .. makes it much less complicated .. I really enjoyed it !
Thank you! I'm glad you liked the video.
Learned a lot here as a very beginner. Thank you, Jared!
That feels good to hear, I'm glad you liked it.
Wow! I am glad I tuned in. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
That was fabulous. A great, scientific and factual way to identify rocks. Loved it, and learned a few new things. Thanks 😊
Thank you.
Cool beans. The testing was perfect. Well done. Not many places on you tube for identification. Be safe and stay healthy 😷⚒
I'm glad you liked it.
I enjoyed your video because it was fast and to the point. You speak fast and get it done. Thank you
I'm glad you liked it.
Great tutorial. That kit is a must have. You a knack for teaching.
It's really helpful to have for sure. Thank you.
I had no idea there were kits to test the hardness of each stone, I thought I would have to just figure it out, I know I must sound stupid, I just wanted to thank you for helping me find the tools I need to help me identify and sort my collection, it will help so much when I start tumbling so I don’t put soft stuff in with harder material
Thanks again 👍🏻
I'm glad you found this video to be helpful. I think you will find it really useful when you start to tumble, far too often the mistake people make is mixing hardness.
you are so entertaining, thank YOU for making this video, truly made my Friday night!
Thank you!
Great explanation... Thanks
You made that look so easy! I really enjoy your vids!
I'm glad you like the videos! Ill keep them coming.
I must say i really enjoy your teachings. Thank you
Thank you!
Thank you, I appreciate this video, lots of info and not just the guessing.
You're very welcome. This process will apply to the vast majority of what you find.
Thank you so much for sharing ❤
Another great video! Should have watched this before asking a bunch of questions.
It's all good, I'll chat about rocks all day if you let me.
Great way to assess a not so obvious rock !
Thank you.
thank you for doing this video, been looking to learn how to identify stuff as im hounding around
I'm glad you liked it.
Thank you 🙏🏻 that’s is the best , most informative rock video!! I have been so overwhelmed looking this up. I have the other Smithsonian Rock & Gem book I take on every trip. But I’m going to get that one now too. Great video!!
I recall being really frustrated by the process when we first started. There wasn't a really clear and easy way for me to ID I thought.
This is the best rock video ever thank you for this.
Thank you!
You should also check out my website if you like this.
Jared...you nailed this. Can't think of a single thing to add... Other than I'm so jealous of your scratch test kit... I've been wanting one. Cheers to a great informative video🐾
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
Thank you so much.. Every teacher should teach like this, but everyone just goes through the books, they don't talk about how important this practical knowledge is.. Hats off to your presentation.. You deserve more ..
Can you tell me the name of those books please??
Thank you very much! I try to make this material easy to digest. Throwing a like or a comment on the video helps youtube recognize that it's a good video so your comments here help!
Absolutely! A Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals, Rocks & Minerals of Washington and Oregon, and Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals. Also you can find links to them in the description box on the video.
Thanks for your kindness 😊😊
That was so cool! Thank you!
I'm glad you liked it.
REALLY EXCELLENT. HELPED ME A GREAT DEAL. WELL DONE, SIR.
Thanks for the info
Awesome video bro. I will share this a lot in most of the FB groups I’m always scrolling through on trying to help people identify. I haven’t found any video either that really explains this. I use all those techniques except the gravity test. But will add it on. As well I have been meaning to check and see is a mohs hardness kit existed hut always forgot to check. So I will definitely be buying one. I was thinking that was Chert as well lol
Thanks man, I appreciate the shares. It's more about the process then the rock in the video you know. There's other mohs hardness kits out there without the plastic case and they are slightly cheaper.
Very good video with Excellent information, and resources shown. Thank you for sharing!
I'm glad you liked it.
This really helps me a lot! Awesome video.
I'm glad you liked it.
I speed all videos up all bit. Your a great teacher. I wish other people would break it down like you. I love rocks but idk what they are half the time so I put them with look alikes but after a pile I see the differences and it's sort of drives me crazy
I'm glad you have found them helpful!
Thanks you. I learned from your video. You are a Gem among rocks. 👏
Thanks for this! Really appreciate your no frills way of teaching real accurate information for us numbnuts man! Can't wait for the snow to melt so i can go rock hunting again! Cheers from Montreal Canada!
I like videos that get to the meat of the subject so I try to make stuff like that. It feels like spring here where I live but you still have some time to go.
Hey thanks for this!! You’re putting out some really nice content 😎💜🙏🏾
You're welcome! I'm glad you like it!
Thank you so much for this!!
I'm glad you liked it!
I live in northeast Oregon, in the blue mountains where the rocks are fabulous. I have a few specimens that you just taught me are probably jasper. Thanks!
You do have a bunch of Jasper down there. I love NE Oregon.
This was super helpful! Thank you!
I'm glad you found it to be helpful.
Good video! I’m no expert in identifying jasper-except by using the general characteristics as a guide. I would guess it is harder and more glassy than chert (but you probably more knowledgeable than me regarding that). I find chert to be more like a slightly muddy quartz. It starts as a siliceous ooze-and you may be able to see radiolarians in it with a hand lens. But the ooze part includes some muds-and is why it tends to have a dull color-similar to a piece of thick plastic or bone. It also has vague conchoidal fractures (b/c of quartz dominant but not pure quartz), but scratches glass with more difficulty than pure quartz (b/c of partly mud composition).
A must watch,
thankyou!
I'm glad you liked it!
Awesome video, great job explaining. The specific gravity brought me back, haven't done that since nursing school 🙃.
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.
Dude, love your vids. Me and my lady are getting into this rockhounding stuff / lapidary, so your knowledge on this is super helpful, keep up the good work and content! High five, From ontario,,, , , CA not Canada. 😅.. btw eye am knot a bot!
Thank you very much!
Very well done, thank you
Extremely helpful !!!
I'm glad you liked it.
Omg I started trying to learn how to identify rocks by watching science mom..I got so bored and looked for another video. Then I found yours. I must say I enjoyed it tremendously you were very entertaining..lol and comical even though I don't think you were trying to be. This was great. I am now a a follower
I believe I have seen her video on the subject and she does approach the subject in a very amateur way.
I'm glad you found this video to be helpful!
Fabulous 🎥. Thanks for the information. I’m deep diving into identification. Reading and watching everything I can to better educate myself. Thanks for the 🎥. Stay Crystal 💫
It's a really interesting topic to get into.
I really like this video. I am currently taking a small break. sending you some images and locations of finds. It would be nice if those categories were on the side of the waterproof paper 1. origin, 2. magnetic, 3. hardness, 4. metalic, 5. specific gravity (really enjoyed this helpful how to) 5. luster, 6. color, 7. grain shape
what magnification would be best for a field lupe?
Great info.
Thx. 😊
I'm glad you liked it.
Nice educational presentation, thanks!
You're very welcome.
thanks...this was helpful.
I'm glad you liked it.
this was awsome! thanks a lot!
I'm glad you liked it.
Thanks for the info!
Of course! I hope you found it to be helpful.
Without seeing a cross cut view of the banding/grain, I'm gonna guess the more specific SE OR locations of Owyhee or McDermitt Picture Jasper. Got any other picture jasper rough for sale?
Very interesting. First time. Just subscribed.
Welcome!
Good material here. Well earned sub.
Thank you! I try to put together solid content.
Is there software that you can enter characteristics, eg specific gravity, hardness, etc as filters to narrow the search?
Not that I know of.
I called it chert from the get go I have a question though isn't chert concoidal isn't that what the majority of arrow heads are made of it has to fracture that way maybe I'm wrong
Thank You I'm trying to learn about rocks I've been carrying them home for over 50 years but I can't tell one from another I go by their Cool Factor! I would really like to be able to tell them apart but it seems to me it depends on who is identifying them there's no set rules for so many things I don't think I will ever learn to identify all of my rocks I guess I will have to be happy with the Cool Factor I know I am right about them then.
All joking aside I do want to learn what ever I can about rocks and I want to thank you again for teaching everyone you can keep up the good work!
I think bring home things you like is great!
I do think it's important to point out that the hobby of rock and mineral identification is really its own thing that is separate from rockhounding in many ways. It really doesn't depend on who is going through the steps of identifying the rock in question so long as they are follow the same steps of identification.
I have ton of videos on the channel that are quite educational that I think you will like.
Thank you .. was interesting and really learned some new things
Thanks for watching.
Currently Rockhounding I look forward to your videos 👍😊
🧐 loving my rock School …
Master Professor … thanks
“More awesomerrrr”… perfect description….😂
Thank you very much
Thanks!
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much.
Helped a lott!
I'm glad you liked it.
Thank you this helps me so much 💖
I'm glad you liked it.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding I Love rocks and had acumulated 4 large bins of tgem some were given and some collected had no idea how to for sure find out what they were til your video . I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AGSIN THANK YOI DO VERY MUCH
@@donnaproto999 Sounds like you really have your work cut out for you but the process of rock identification is fun.
Hey...that was awesome..an i watched the whole thing..lol..this was very educational for me..thanks
I'm glad you enjoyed and thank you for watching.
It would be interesting to make an excel sheet, with all the characteristics listed in the video. by filling in the answer boxes of the excel, a summary identification should be obtained
Something like that kind of exsists now. It's on Mindat and it's called the Advanced Mineral Search.
Nice sir!
I'm glad you liked it.
To test for a rock being ferrous you should use a magnet on a string, because i found sometimes they are but just barely
Love this video!! You read our minds!!! Thank you for teach us o many things !!! Are you a professor?? If not , you no need a tittle, you are natural!!!
Thank you, I'm glad you found the video to be useful. I am not a professor, but I do enjoy rocks.
I would also add fracture type to the list. For example it’s sometimes quite hard (at least for me) to tell the difference between chert and jasper, I’ve read that chert often has a semi-conchoidal fracture (although I will have to do some more research on that) Jasper on the other hand pretty much always gives a perfect conchoidal fracture which I know because I’ve made a few arrowheads out of it. The more clues the better right?
Edit: oh, actually I see you pretty much got the same information from the grain structure. I didn’t wait till the end to comment haha.
Jasper and chert sure can be hard to tell the difference between at times and sometimes the two can be mixed together which can be even more of a challenge.
Good Job...
Thank you.
We moved from Walla Walla to Fayetteville , Arkansas. There are crazy neat stones EVERYWHERE here! I am a new convert to the hunt. This has been a super helpful. I think i know what ive picked up... only to find 10 other things it may be. You rock! (Dad joke)
Hahaha, I have heard good things about Arkansas! I'm glad you liked the video.
Oh, yeah! Looks like you have some nice rocks! I love rocks! Got a bunch myself!
I do have quite the collection going.
Good Video... you did good.... thnx for sharing. I've got a couple of books coming from Amazon... one is rock identifying... :)
Thank you. I'm glad you liked it.
Cherpser?, Jaspgate? hard to place the silicates as they so often are somewhere on a spectrum as opposed to being clearly one thing or another. from eyeballing (from your video) I would have guessed a chert, but eyeballs can deceive you. At least with the SG and hardness it is reasonable to determine microcrystalline quartz.
I have to echo other comments. Your videos are very helpful and you instruct without making the viewer feel stupid for not knowing as much as others.
Thank you! At one point in time everyone knew nothing on the subject they now know a lot about.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding Thanks! I really appreciate your attitude and wish I could go rock hounding with you. I quit 2 groups because people got obnoxious about sharing information, unwilling to help newbies, and mocking questions on trying to identify rocks.
@@emdee7744 I'm sorry to hear that. I promise you that will not happen here at all.
Thank you so much for your videos. I learn so much from them! I believe you and I are kindred spirits though you don't know me.☺️
I'm glad you like the videos! I have lots and lots to watch here.
You need your magnet on a string then bring your rock to it. It may be slightly magnetic
That is a good practice but not always needed if you have a strong enough magnet.