**Rock & Mineral Identification — Identify Stones by Photo | Orvik**

> Photograph any rock, mineral, or gemstone and get instant AI identification with geological details and value estimates.

Source: https://orvik.app/rocks/

# Rocks & Minerals

Identify rocks, minerals, gemstones, and fossils with AI.

- [![Field Guide to Identifying Igneous Rocks](https://orvik.app/covers/how-to-identify-igneous-rocks.svg) Geology ## Field Guide to Identifying Igneous Rocks Learn how to identify igneous rocks by texture, minerals, color and context. Field-tested tips for granite, basalt, rhyolite and more. June 21, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/how-to-identify-igneous-rocks/)

- [Geology ### Spotting Metamorphic Rocks: A Field Guide June 21, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/how-to-identify-metamorphic-rocks/)
- [Mineral ID ### Mastering Quartz: Identify Crystals Like an Expert June 21, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/quartz-identification/)
- [rock-identification ### Field Guide to Rock Identification March 14, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/identify-rocks/)
- [rock-identification ### Master Rock ID: Expert Guide to Stones March 13, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/rock-identifier-app/)

## All articles

- [![How to Identify Any Rock in the Field](https://orvik.app/covers/what-is-this-rock.svg) geology ### How to Identify Any Rock in the Field Quickly answer what is this rock with step-by-step ID: color, texture, hardness, grain, and habitat clues. Use Orvik's photo AI for fast, reliable ID. March 3, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/what-is-this-rock/)
- [![Understanding Pumice: The Frothy Volcanic Rock](https://orvik.app/covers/what-is-a-pumice.svg) geology ### Understanding Pumice: The Frothy Volcanic Rock what is a pumice — Learn its volcanic-glass nature, formation, ID tips, uses, safety, and how to tell it from scoria, pegmatite, pudding stone, or yooperlite. February 27, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/what-is-a-pumice/)
- [![How to Identify Gemstones Like a Pro](https://orvik.app/covers/gemstone-identification.svg) gemstone-identification ### How to Identify Gemstones Like a Pro Learn gemstone identification with a 7-step workflow, photo tips, simple tests and tools to ID gems confidently. Practical steps, charts and safety notes. February 24, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/gemstone-identification/)
- [![Visual Crystal ID: A Specialist’s Field Guide](https://orvik.app/covers/crystal-identifier.svg) gemology ### Visual Crystal ID: A Specialist’s Field Guide Use this crystal identifier to ID stones from photos or in hand. Follow 10 visual tests, safety tips, and habitat clues to confidently name minerals. February 20, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/crystal-identifier/)
- [![Obsidian: The Volcanic Glass Explained](https://orvik.app/covers/obsidian-what-type-of-rock.svg) geology ### Obsidian: The Volcanic Glass Explained Learn what obsidian what type of rock is, how it forms, visual ID tips, uses, safety, and where to find it. Practical field guidance and comparisons. February 19, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/obsidian-what-type-of-rock/)
- [![Diamond and the Hardest Rocks: A Field Guide](https://orvik.app/covers/what-is-the-hardest-rock.svg) geology ### Diamond and the Hardest Rocks: A Field Guide Discover what is the hardest rock, how hardness is measured, where diamonds form, and practical field ID tips. Use Orvik to ID rocks in the wild. February 18, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/what-is-the-hardest-rock/)
- [![Granite: Field Guide to a Classic Rock](https://orvik.app/covers/granite-is-what-type-of-rock.svg) geology ### Granite: Field Guide to a Classic Rock Identify granite with confidence: learn what it's made of, why granite is what type of rock, visual ID tips, comparisons, distribution, and safety notes. February 7, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/granite-is-what-type-of-rock/)
- [![Field Guide to Identifying Fossils](https://orvik.app/covers/fossil-identifier.svg) fossils ### Field Guide to Identifying Fossils A smart fossil identifier for photos: learn visual cues, habitat, bone vs shell comparisons, and safe collecting tips for beach and field finds. January 29, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/fossil-identifier/)
- [![Inside the Geode: A Field Guide to Crystal Pockets](https://orvik.app/covers/what-is-a-geode.svg) geology ### Inside the Geode: A Field Guide to Crystal Pockets What is a geode, how do geodes form and look, where to find them, and how to ID and open them safely — photos, field tips, care. January 18, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/what-is-a-geode/)
- [![Identify Crystals with Confidence](https://orvik.app/covers/crystal-identification-app.svg) crystal identification app ### Identify Crystals with Confidence Compare top crystal identification app options, learn photo-ID and safety tips, and get fast free IDs with steps to verify results accurately. January 18, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/crystal-identification-app/)
- [![Inside Igneous Rock: Formation, Types & Field ID](https://orvik.app/covers/what-are-igneous-rock.svg) geology ### Inside Igneous Rock: Formation, Types & Field ID Learn what are igneous rock: formation, types, visual ID tips, and where to find them. Use Orvik to identify samples in the field with confidence. January 17, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/what-are-igneous-rock/)
- [![Basalt in the Field: A Practical Guide](https://orvik.app/covers/what-is-basalt.svg) geology ### Basalt in the Field: A Practical Guide Learn what is basalt — a dark, fine-grained mafic igneous rock. Identify basalt in the field with clear visual cues, formation, uses, and safety tips. January 13, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/what-is-basalt/)
- [![Sandstone: How to Identify and Where It Forms](https://orvik.app/covers/what-are-sandstone.svg) Geology ### Sandstone: How to Identify and Where It Forms Learn what are sandstone, how they form, how to identify them in the field, and how to tell them from quartzite or shale — practical tips and safety steps. January 10, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/what-are-sandstone/)
- [![What Chalk Is: Origins, Composition, and ID Tips](https://orvik.app/covers/chalk-is-made-of-what.svg) geology ### What Chalk Is: Origins, Composition, and ID Tips Learn chalk is made of what: composition, formation, field ID tips, and comparisons with chert, shale, diatomite and oil shale—plus safety and uses. January 3, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/chalk-is-made-of-what/)
- [![Identifying Limestone: The Basics](https://orvik.app/covers/limestone-is-what-type-of-rock.svg) geology ### Identifying Limestone: The Basics If you ask "limestone is what type of rock" this guide shows how to ID it—composition (CaCO3), HCl test, textures, habitats, safety, and comparisons. January 2, 2026](https://orvik.app/rocks/limestone-is-what-type-of-rock/)

What is in this section

## How to use the rocks & minerals section

There are 20 articles here
, published between January 2026 and June 2026, and
they answer questions rather than catalogue species: how to tell two similar things apart,
what a particular mark or shape means, what to do once you know. They are the long form.

The faster route, when you have the thing in front of you, is one of the
4 free keys for this section —
122 entries between them. A key does not ask you to describe what you
are looking at in words; it asks a series of questions you can answer by looking, and the
list shrinks as you go. Nothing is hidden behind the filter: every entry is written into
the page, so the whole catalogue is readable with scripting switched off, and each one
carries the single sentence that separates it from its nearest look-alike.

There is a third thing on the site worth knowing about from here, because it answers a
question this section cannot. People arriving at an identification problem usually end up
comparing apps, and the honest answer to "which one" depends on facts that change —
what each costs this month, what it locks behind a subscription, who publishes it. Those
pages exist under

- [compare and alternatives](https://orvik.app/compare/), and not one figure on
them is typed by hand: every price and every in-app purchase list is read from a dated App
Store snapshot, and the build fails if a currency amount ever appears in the editorial
text. It is the same discipline as the numbers below, applied to a subject that goes stale
faster.

### Reading a shortlist without being fooled by it

Whatever brings you here, the failure mode is the same and it is worth naming. A key, an
app and a search all hand you a shortlist, and a shortlist feels like an answer. It is not:
it is a set of candidates that survived the characters you happened to check, and the one
at the top is usually the one that is *common* rather than the one that is
*right*. That is often the same thing, which is exactly why it is dangerous when it
is not.

Three habits fix most of it. Check a character you have not used yet — if the candidate
survives a test drawn from a different part of the organism, the identification is much
stronger than one built on colour alone. Check where you are: an enormous share of confident
misidentifications are species that do not occur within a thousand miles of the observer,
and geography alone settles them. And notice when the answer does not matter — a great many
identifications are curiosity, where being wrong costs nothing, and the small number where
it does cost something are worth treating completely differently.

Where the consequence of an error is medical — anything eaten, anything that bit somebody,
anything a child had in their hands — no page here and no app is the right tool. Describe
what you have to somebody qualified, and keep the specimen or a photograph. The keys are
built to make that description accurate, which is a genuinely useful thing to be, and it is
a different job from telling you it is safe.

Open data

## What the observation record actually says about rocks & minerals

The mineral and gemstone keys in this section add 48 entries with a
published chemical formula, Mohs hardness range and crystal system, taken from
Macrostrat. Hardness is the one property here you can test yourself with a
fingernail, a coin and a knife blade, which is why the keys lead with it rather than
with colour.

The fossil key adds 20 groups with a first and last appearance in
millions of years, from the Paleobiology Database — so the age of the rock a specimen
came out of can rule most of the list out before you look at the specimen at all.

Every figure on this page comes from the same snapshot, and the whole thing is published
as one downloadable file:
- [open field data](https://orvik.app/data/), CC BY 4.0, with each
source's own licence listed. If a number here disagrees with the source database today,
the source is right and this snapshot is old.

Free keys in this section:
- [What kind of rock is this?](https://orvik.app/tools/rock-identifier/) ·
- [Which mineral is this?](https://orvik.app/tools/mineral-identifier/) ·
- [What gemstone is this?](https://orvik.app/tools/gemstone-identifier/) ·
- [What fossil is this?](https://orvik.app/tools/fossil-identifier/)

How do I identify rocks & minerals? Start with observable traits: color, luster, grain or crystal size, hardness (Mohs scale), cleavage or fracture, streak color and any reaction to dilute acid. Combine those field observations with context — where the sample was found, associated rock types and visible layering — to narrow possibilities. For many specimens a good photo plus a few quick tests will yield a confident ID; for very similar minerals or gem-quality material, confirmatory lab tests may be necessary.

## How Orvik works for rocks & minerals

Orvik is a rocks identifier app that uses image analysis, trait detection and a curated reference library to match your photos to likely rock and mineral candidates. Upload multiple images (overall form, close-up texture, crystal faces and a scale) and Orvik returns ranked suggestions, diagnostic features to check, similar reference images and recommended simple field tests. Results include a confidence score and links to deeper references so you can verify identifications or flag uncertain samples for expert review.

## What you can learn — and safety notes

Orvik helps you learn rock class (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic), dominant minerals, typical formation environments, and whether a specimen might be a gemstone or ore. The app also highlights safety and toxicity flags — for example, samples that may contain asbestos, heavy metals or soluble arsenic — and recommends safe handling (gloves, avoid dust, wash hands) and when to seek professional lab analysis.

## Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is Orvik at identifying rocks and minerals?

Orvik is highly accurate for common rocks and widely occurring minerals by combining image analysis with diagnostic trait checks; it provides a confidence score for each suggestion. Rare minerals, weathered surfaces or low-quality photos reduce accuracy, and the app will recommend specific follow-up tests or expert confirmation when necessary.

Is Orvik free to use as a rocks identifier app?

Orvik offers free core identification features, allowing you to upload photos and get candidate matches and basic trait guidance. Optional paid tiers unlock advanced features such as offline packs, higher-resolution analysis and expanded reference material.

How should I photograph a specimen for the best ID?

Take multiple photos: an overall view showing size and shape, a close-up of texture or crystals, and a photo with a scale (coin, ruler). Use natural light, avoid shadows, and include shots after a fresh break or a cleaned surface when possible.

Can Orvik distinguish between a rock and the minerals it contains or identify gemstones?

Yes — Orvik suggests both rock types and constituent mineral species when visible, and it flags potential gem materials. For gemstone quality, provenance or treatments you should still obtain gemological testing from a lab.

Are there safety concerns when collecting or testing rocks?

Yes. Wear gloves, avoid inhaling dust when breaking or sanding samples, and never perform acid or heat tests indoors without proper protection. Orvik flags samples with possible asbestos, heavy metal or arsenic content and advises when to stop field tests and seek lab analysis.

What simple field tests does Orvik recommend and interpret?

Orvik recommends quick, non-destructive tests like hardness (scratch tests), streak on an unglazed plate, magnetism, and a dilute acid drop to check for carbonates. The app explains how to perform each test safely and shows how results change identification likelihoods; some tests still require a lab for confirmation.

## Free rocks & minerals tools, in your browser

Filterable identification keys and calculators. Nothing to install, no account, and every entry is readable without JavaScript.

- [All free tools →](https://orvik.app/tools/)
- [Rock Identifier alternatives — what a photo cannot measure →](https://orvik.app/alternatives/rock-identifier/)

- [### What kind of rock is this? Grain size, layering and three kitchen tests narrow 33 common rocks.](https://orvik.app/tools/rock-identifier/)
- [### Which mineral is this? Streak, lustre, hardness and cleavage — the real determinative key, for 36 minerals.](https://orvik.app/tools/mineral-identifier/)
- [### What gemstone is this? Colour, hardness and optical effect — 27 gems, with the fakes named.](https://orvik.app/tools/gemstone-identifier/)
- [### What fossil is this? Shape, size and host rock narrow 26 common fossils.](https://orvik.app/tools/fossil-identifier/)
- [### Mohs hardness scale, with a scratch test you can actually do What scratches what, and which household object sits at each step.](https://orvik.app/tools/mohs-hardness-scale/)

## Explore Other Topics

Identify more with Orvik — from plants to rocks, insects to birds

- [### Plants 135 articles](https://orvik.app/plants/)
- [### Insects 34 articles](https://orvik.app/insects/)
- [### Animals 18 articles](https://orvik.app/animals/)
- [### Birds 11 articles](https://orvik.app/birds/)
- [### Collectibles 7 articles](https://orvik.app/collectibles/)
- [### Food 11 articles](https://orvik.app/food/)
- [### Nature 4 articles](https://orvik.app/nature/)
- [### Sports Cards 15 articles](https://orvik.app/sports-cards/)

## Identify rocks & minerals instantly

Download Orvik and start identifying with your camera. Free, fast, and accurate.

[Download Free](https://orvik.app/app/)

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