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@@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.
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.
@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)
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
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).
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.
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.
Chert breaks with a conchoidal fracture, often producing very sharp edges. Early people took advantage of how chert breaks and used it to fashion cutting tools and weapons. "Chert" and "flint" are names used for the same material. You were right the first time I believe. Grain and fracture are two different things. You can have conchoidal fracture with crystalline grain. The conchoidal fracture tells me it's more likely chert. Thanks for the video.
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 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.
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 ..
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.
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.
Great explanations, and walkthrough, though you jumped the micro glass investigation - what to look for, but I’ll pick that up in one of your other videos. Thanks, I’m subscribed now.
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.
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. 💎👍
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!
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
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.
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!
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.
I'm very impressed that you mentioned specific gravity. That is something I haven't heard in the other videos I've watched And part of why I had felt they were poorly made.
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 !
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?
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.
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 💫
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 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.
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
Excellent video! One correction, a pocket knife blade is much harder than a standard steel nail, so I think they got these two reversed in the hardness chart you showed in the early part of the video. You can scratch window glass with a pocket knife. I have a great mineral identification book from a geology course I took in college that allows you to identify almost any mineral with almost 100% certainty and and your video contains almost all of the methods from that text book.
I'm glad you liked the video. There is a number of those little images floating around is a number of variations on them. I know there are additional methods to identification but I think from a practical stand point this will get most people in the right place as far as rockhounding goes.
I realize that you left this comment a long time ago, but I was curious if the textbook you mentioned is still in print or if it’s perhaps available for sale on Amazon (I know that textbooks are generally quite expensive). If it is, would you mind sharing the title & author or publisher?
@@RuinedTemple I should have said I had it. My class was back in the late 60s and I haven’t seen that book in years. My brother took the same course and he may be able to get information on the book for me. It was a serious identification book for geologists.
@@RuinedTemple He found the jacket cover - I’m having trouble attaching the image but the book is Mineral Recognition by Iris Vanders and Paul F. Kerr, John Wiley & Sons. If he finds the book he is willing to put it on EBay and I’ll let you know what price he’ll be asking.
When testing for magnetics handing a small powerful magnet on a string is best as it registers the smallest attraction. I have one piece that repels a magnet.
I've heard that before. I guess my thought has always been that if a small magnet on a string will register small attractions then a super power magnet that's fixed will detect the same amount of attraction. I first saw that advice given in a book from the 70s, a time well before neodymium magnets were readily available. I guess this is something I should test.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding well for stronger attracting rocks it works but a weak attraction is sometimes not enough to hold the magnet to the rock or feel it with your hand, all of my star garnets are magnetic i have tourmaline crystals that are also magnetic. Its worth a few tests trust me.
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
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!!
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 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.
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)
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
@@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.
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?
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.
Hello there, I'm a first time viewer. Me and my daughter are amateur rock hounds. She has found quite a few specimens that contain quartz, Pyrite and a third mystery mineral. I'm concerned that it might be lead ore. If I were to send you a photo would you help us identify it? She is finding them in her grandpa's gravel driveway. Any help would be appreciated. Trying to avoid lead poisoning.
Can you do a video about loupe to answer how we know if a loupe is 10x 15x, and other stuffa ... because there are so many fake/misrepresenting loupes i read/heard
That was great!! Rockhounding is pandemic born for me, so I am new to it! The Geologist clips are great on YT as well, but I'll start here.... 😵😵😵...😂 Thank you for keeping it simple!😎
@@CurrentlyRockhounding it was thank-you! I got overwhelmed when I started watching these YT videos. I had to revert back to some high school science to comprehend what everyone was talking about 🥴 I'll be checking out more here 🙂
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!!!
@@CurrentlyRockhounding Thank you. I tried using an app off playstore to identify and it says it's Jasper but I've never seen Jasper like that. I also found basalt. I live in Michigan (Northern)
This is very good, but instead of trying to figure out which of the many forms of silica it is, how about looking at other, more interesting minerals? A good one is to figure out whether a specimen is Pyrite or Chalcopyrite. This allows you to really see how similar looking minerals can be identified using all these methods. Otherwise, well done!!
I disagree, it's very straightforward and easy to look at prime examples that can be quickly identified with a keen eye. The reason I picked what I did was because it was more complex and less clear, which is often going to be the case.
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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!
You rock, dude... crystal clear instructions and solid format to follow. I won't take your wisdom for granite
I'm happy to help.
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.
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)
Only just getting into collecting a few things here in uk and this is one of the best videos i've found on identifying stuff, great vid.
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.
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).
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!
This was a great video. Not to much talk about nonrelevant stuff. Very imformative. Thank You
I'm glad you liked it.
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.
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!!!
I am a slow learner. It took watching 4 or 5 of your videos, before I learned I should subscribe. Great info btw.
Welcome!
Chert breaks with a conchoidal fracture, often producing very sharp edges. Early people took advantage of how chert breaks and used it to fashion cutting tools and weapons. "Chert" and "flint" are names used for the same material. You were right the first time I believe. Grain and fracture are two different things. You can have conchoidal fracture with crystalline grain. The conchoidal fracture tells me it's more likely chert. Thanks for the video.
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.
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.
Extremely helpful video!
Thanks Jared!
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 😊😊
Planning my first rockhounding trip in Georgia. Thank you so much!
I'm glad you liked it.
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.
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.
Great explanations, and walkthrough, though you jumped the micro glass investigation - what to look for, but I’ll pick that up in one of your other videos. Thanks, I’m subscribed now.
Thanks, just starting out, this was very helpful.
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.
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.
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.
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. 💎👍
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.
Great video Jared! Loved it! My favorite part was the specific gravity.👍 💯 💥
Thank you!
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!
To test for a rock being ferrous you should use a magnet on a string, because i found sometimes they are but just barely
youre right. details in the eye of the beholder. i was gonna say its orange, you said its brown lol
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 way to assess a not so obvious rock !
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.
thank you for doing this video, been looking to learn how to identify stuff as im hounding around
I'm glad you liked it.
I must say i really enjoy your teachings. Thank you
Thank you!
As always, great video! I really appreciate the section about the specific gravity.
Thank you.
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.
I'm very impressed that you mentioned specific gravity. That is something I haven't heard in the other videos I've watched And part of why I had felt they were poorly made.
I don't think leaving it out means those videos were poorly done.
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.
Really helpful. Thanks for the detailed explanation!
Great tutorial. That kit is a must have. You a knack for teaching.
It's really helpful to have for sure. Thank you.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Excellent video! One correction, a pocket knife blade is much harder than a standard steel nail, so I think they got these two reversed in the hardness chart you showed in the early part of the video. You can scratch window glass with a pocket knife.
I have a great mineral identification book from a geology course I took in college that allows you to identify almost any mineral with almost 100% certainty and and your video contains almost all of the methods from that text book.
I'm glad you liked the video. There is a number of those little images floating around is a number of variations on them.
I know there are additional methods to identification but I think from a practical stand point this will get most people in the right place as far as rockhounding goes.
I realize that you left this comment a long time ago, but I was curious if the textbook you mentioned is still in print or if it’s perhaps available for sale on Amazon (I know that textbooks are generally quite expensive).
If it is, would you mind sharing the title & author or publisher?
@@RuinedTemple I should have said I had it. My class was back in the late 60s and I haven’t seen that book in years. My brother took the same course and he may be able to get information on the book for me. It was a serious identification book for geologists.
@@OnTheRiver66
Understandable.
If you get around to it, cool. If not, cool. 🙂
@@RuinedTemple He found the jacket cover - I’m having trouble attaching the image but the book is Mineral Recognition by Iris Vanders and Paul F. Kerr, John Wiley & Sons. If he finds the book he is willing to put it on EBay and I’ll let you know what price he’ll be asking.
Very good video with Excellent information, and resources shown. Thank you for sharing!
I'm glad you liked it.
When testing for magnetics handing a small powerful magnet on a string is best as it registers the smallest attraction. I have one piece that repels a magnet.
I've heard that before. I guess my thought has always been that if a small magnet on a string will register small attractions then a super power magnet that's fixed will detect the same amount of attraction. I first saw that advice given in a book from the 70s, a time well before neodymium magnets were readily available. I guess this is something I should test.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding well for stronger attracting rocks it works but a weak attraction is sometimes not enough to hold the magnet to the rock or feel it with your hand, all of my star garnets are magnetic i have tourmaline crystals that are also magnetic. Its worth a few tests trust me.
@@rawdawgpendants5490 You make a very good point. I will start messing around with it and testing things. Thanks you.
🧐 loving my rock School …
Master Professor … thanks
“More awesomerrrr”… perfect description….😂
Great explanation... Thanks
That was fabulous. A great, scientific and factual way to identify rocks. Loved it, and learned a few new things. Thanks 😊
Thank you.
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.
Thanks you. I learned from your video. You are a Gem among rocks. 👏
This is the best rock video ever thank you for this.
Thank you!
You should also check out my website if you like this.
you are so entertaining, thank YOU for making this video, truly made my Friday night!
Thank you!
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.
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!
Fantastic teaching!
REALLY EXCELLENT. HELPED ME A GREAT DEAL. WELL DONE, SIR.
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.
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.
Very interesting. First time. Just subscribed.
Welcome!
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
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 sharing ❤
This really helps me a lot! Awesome video.
I'm glad you liked it.
Love the hardness kit. Got to get me one. I guessed chert😢
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.
You made that look so easy! I really enjoy your vids!
I'm glad you like the videos! Ill keep them coming.
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?
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.
Nice educational presentation, thanks!
You're very welcome.
Hello there, I'm a first time viewer. Me and my daughter are amateur rock hounds. She has found quite a few specimens that contain quartz, Pyrite and a third mystery mineral. I'm concerned that it might be lead ore. If I were to send you a photo would you help us identify it? She is finding them in her grandpa's gravel driveway. Any help would be appreciated. Trying to avoid lead poisoning.
Yeah you can send me some photos at currentlyrockhounding@gmail.com
You are correct therefore I was correct. Thanks that was awesome.
That was great! Thank you. Now I have about 600 rocks to identify.
And...I'm still not sure if I have a Fairburn Agate.
Were you out in the area where Fairburns are found?
Yes, on the edges of the area in NW Nebr about 50 miles to the south of Fairburn.
Very well done, thank you
Thank you .. was interesting and really learned some new things
Thanks for watching.
Currently Rockhounding I look forward to your videos 👍😊
That was so cool! Thank you!
I'm glad you liked it.
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.
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.
Is there software that you can enter characteristics, eg specific gravity, hardness, etc as filters to narrow the search?
Not that I know of.
Thanks for the info
Oh, yeah! Looks like you have some nice rocks! I love rocks! Got a bunch myself!
I do have quite the collection going.
Hey thanks for this!! You’re putting out some really nice content 😎💜🙏🏾
You're welcome! I'm glad you like it!
Can you do a video about loupe to answer how we know if a loupe is 10x 15x, and other stuffa ... because there are so many fake/misrepresenting loupes i read/heard
I'll look into it.
A must watch,
thankyou!
I'm glad you liked it!
This was super helpful! Thank you!
I'm glad you found it to be helpful.
That was great!! Rockhounding is pandemic born for me, so I am new to it! The Geologist clips are great on YT as well, but I'll start here.... 😵😵😵...😂 Thank you for keeping it simple!😎
I'm glad you liked it and I like to think that the content I make is very consumable and easy to understand.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding it was thank-you! I got overwhelmed when I started watching these YT videos. I had to revert back to some high school science to comprehend what everyone was talking about 🥴
I'll be checking out more here 🙂
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.
What does a person do if they find Jasper in raw form? I'm very new beginner as well. 😃 Thank you.
That's a little hard to answer but you can just enjoy it as is or cut and polish it.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding Thank you. I tried using an app off playstore to identify and it says it's Jasper but I've never seen Jasper like that. I also found basalt. I live in Michigan (Northern)
@@tbarkley9996 Unfortunately those apps are very inaccurate.
@@CurrentlyRockhounding I pretty much figured they probably are but it's worth a try. I found one and so far it's accurate.
This is very good, but instead of trying to figure out which of the many forms of silica it is, how about looking at other, more interesting minerals? A good one is to figure out whether a specimen is Pyrite or Chalcopyrite. This allows you to really see how similar looking minerals can be identified using all these methods. Otherwise, well done!!
I disagree, it's very straightforward and easy to look at prime examples that can be quickly identified with a keen eye.
The reason I picked what I did was because it was more complex and less clear, which is often going to be the case.