Rock & Mineral Encyclopedia

Search and identify 1,000+ rocks, minerals, crystals, and gemstones — with properties, formation, colors, hardness, and how to tell them apart.

Amber

Fossilized tree resin, warm and lightweight, sometimes preserving ancient insects and plant matter inside.

A synthetic garnet-structured oxide (YAG) used as a diamond simulant and laser crystal, with no natural counterpart.

A rare zinc oxide best known for its deep red to orange color, classically from Franklin, New Jersey, and as colorful man-made crystals.

A man-made opalescent glass that glows milky blue in reflected light and warm orange when backlit, often sold as a crystal.

A very rare lead-dominant feldspar composition, the lead analogue of anorthite, known largely from synthetic studies and lead-rich environments.

A natural zirconium silicate gem with high brilliance and fire, often confused with the synthetic imitation cubic zirconia.

A dull, resinous volcanic glass similar to obsidian but with higher water content and a waxy pitch-like luster.

A very soft sulfate mineral defining Mohs 2, occurring as selenite, satin spar, alabaster, and desert rose, used to make plaster.

The titanium-rich black variety of andradite garnet, with a brilliant resinous luster prized for mourning and statement jewelry.