Rock Identifier

Category

Anthropogenic Mineral Mimic

Browse anthropogenic mineral mimic specimens identified by the Rock Identifier community.

Painted River Pebble (likely Basalt or Greywacke) (Aphanitic Lithic Clast with Anthropogenic Pigment coating) — Sedimentary or Igneous

Painted River Pebble (likely Basalt or Greywacke)

Aphanitic Lithic Clast with Anthropogenic Pigment coating

Sedimentary or Igneous

Grooved Maun Ball (Maul/Hammerstone-like Concretion) (Calcareous/Ferruginous Concretion in Sandstone Matrix) — sedimentary

Grooved Maun Ball (Maul/Hammerstone-like Concretion)

Calcareous/Ferruginous Concretion in Sandstone Matrix

Chert (Arrowhead Fragment) (Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2)) — sedimentary

Chert (Arrowhead Fragment)

Microcrystalline Quartz (SiO2)

Iron Slag (Anthropogenic Iron oxide/Silicate composite) — Mineral-like byproduct (Technogenic)

Iron Slag

Anthropogenic Iron oxide/Silicate composite

Mineral-like byproduct (Technogenic)

Banded Agate (specifically Botswana Agate appearance) (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - variety of Chalcedony) — mineral

Banded Agate (specifically Botswana Agate appearance)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - variety of Chalcedony

Banded Agate (Mutton-fat or Pork-stone variety) (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron oxide inclusions) — Sedimentary / Mineral

Banded Agate (Mutton-fat or Pork-stone variety)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron oxide inclusions

Sedimentary / Mineral

Granite Pebble (Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock comprising Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica)) — igneous

Granite Pebble

Granite (Phaneritic intrusive igneous rock comprising Quartz, Feldspar, and Mica)

Concrete (Anthropogenic Sedimentary Rock (Hydrated Calcium Silicate)) — sedimentary (anthropogenic / man-made)

Concrete

Anthropogenic Sedimentary Rock (Hydrated Calcium Silicate)

sedimentary (anthropogenic / man-made)

Titanium-coated Metal Cube (Man-made Fidget Toy) (Titanium-anodized or electroplated alloy (e.g., Ti-coated Zinc or Aluminum)) — Mineral alternative / Synthetic

Titanium-coated Metal Cube (Man-made Fidget Toy)

Titanium-anodized or electroplated alloy (e.g., Ti-coated Zinc or Aluminum)

Mineral alternative / Synthetic

Cullet Glass (Strawberry Glass) (Amorphous Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with metallic dopants) — Mineraloid (Synthetic/Man-made)

Cullet Glass (Strawberry Glass)

Amorphous Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with metallic dopants

Mineraloid (Synthetic/Man-made)

Slag (Anthropogenic Vitrophyre (Iron or Smelting Slag)) — Mineral-like byproduct

Slag

Anthropogenic Vitrophyre (Iron or Smelting Slag)

Mineral-like byproduct

Tumbled Stones (various) (Mixed Silica-based Minerals (primarily Quartz and Chalcedony)) — mineral

Tumbled Stones (various)

Mixed Silica-based Minerals (primarily Quartz and Chalcedony)

K2 Stone (or K2 Jasper) (Azurite-in-Granite (Potassium Feldspar, Quartz, Plagioclase, Muscovite, and Azurite)) — igneous

K2 Stone (or K2 Jasper)

Azurite-in-Granite (Potassium Feldspar, Quartz, Plagioclase, Muscovite, and Azurite)

Tiger's Eye and Carnelian Quartz (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)) — metamorphic and mineral

Tiger's Eye and Carnelian Quartz

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

metamorphic and mineral

Ferruginous Sandstone Pebble (Arenite with Iron-Oxide Cement (SiO2 with Fe2O3/FeO(OH) staining)) — sedimentary

Ferruginous Sandstone Pebble

Arenite with Iron-Oxide Cement (SiO2 with Fe2O3/FeO(OH) staining)

Banded Sandstone (Arenite with Liesegang banding (primarily SiO2 with FeO(OH) impurities)) — sedimentary

Banded Sandstone

Arenite with Liesegang banding (primarily SiO2 with FeO(OH) impurities)

Ferrochrome Slag (Anthropogenic slag (Fe-Cr alloy waste)) — industrial byproduct

Ferrochrome Slag

Anthropogenic slag (Fe-Cr alloy waste)

industrial byproduct

Pearl (Pearl (Calcium Carbonate with organic conchiolin, CaCO3)) — mineral

Pearl

Pearl (Calcium Carbonate with organic conchiolin, CaCO3)

Banded Sandstone (Wonderstone) (Sandstone with Liesegang Rings (SiO2 with Iron Oxides)) — sedimentary

Banded Sandstone (Wonderstone)

Sandstone with Liesegang Rings (SiO2 with Iron Oxides)

Sodium Polyacrylate (Superabsorbent Polymer) (Sodium Polyacrylate [-CH2-CH(COONa)-]n) — mineral (synthetic)

Sodium Polyacrylate (Superabsorbent Polymer)

Sodium Polyacrylate [-CH2-CH(COONa)-]n

mineral (synthetic)

Dragon Vein Agate (Chalcedony (cryptocrystalline silica, SiO2) variety Agate) — mineral

Dragon Vein Agate

Chalcedony (cryptocrystalline silica, SiO2) variety Agate

Boxwork Quartz / Septarian Jasper (Boxwork (SiO2 with iron oxide inclusions)) — metamorphic

Boxwork Quartz / Septarian Jasper

Boxwork (SiO2 with iron oxide inclusions)

Citrine (Heat-Treated Amethyst) (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)) — mineral

Citrine (Heat-Treated Amethyst)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Dyed Magnesite (often sold as Red Turquoise or Howlite) (Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3)) — mineral

Dyed Magnesite (often sold as Red Turquoise or Howlite)

Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO3)

Pickled Dragon Eggs (Fictional Interpretation: Purple Agate or Amethyst Geodes) (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Microcrystalline Quartz) — mineral

Pickled Dragon Eggs (Fictional Interpretation: Purple Agate or Amethyst Geodes)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Microcrystalline Quartz

Red Slag Glass (Amorphous Silica (Industrial byproduct with metallic oxide dopants)) — Mineraloid / Industrial Byproduct

Red Slag Glass

Amorphous Silica (Industrial byproduct with metallic oxide dopants)

Mineraloid / Industrial Byproduct

Zebra Jasper (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Macro-crystalline Quartz/Chert with impurities) — sedimentary

Zebra Jasper

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Macro-crystalline Quartz/Chert with impurities

Slag (Ferrous slag (by-product of iron smelting)) — Mineraloid / Anthropogenic

Slag

Ferrous slag (by-product of iron smelting)

Mineraloid / Anthropogenic

Fired Clay Brick (Anthropic Rock substitute) (Anthropogenic polycrystalline ceramic (predominantly Mullite and Quartz: Al6Si2O13 + SiO2)) — metamorphic (man-made / anthropic)

Fired Clay Brick (Anthropic Rock substitute)

Anthropogenic polycrystalline ceramic (predominantly Mullite and Quartz: Al6Si2O13 + SiO2)

metamorphic (man-made / anthropic)

Opalite (Man-made opalescent glass (SiO2 + metal oxides)) — mineral (synthetic)

Opalite

Man-made opalescent glass (SiO2 + metal oxides)

mineral (synthetic)

Shell Cameo (Sardonyx Shell) (Cassis madagascariensis (Sardonyx shell)) — mineral (biogenic silica/calcium carbonate substrate)

Shell Cameo (Sardonyx Shell)

Cassis madagascariensis (Sardonyx shell)

mineral (biogenic silica/calcium carbonate substrate)

Slag (Industrial Glass Slag) (Amorphous Silica / Ferro-silicate Slag) — mineraloid / anthropogenic

Slag (Industrial Glass Slag)

Amorphous Silica / Ferro-silicate Slag

mineraloid / anthropogenic

Cullet (Slag Glass) (Amorphous Silica (SiO2) with various metal oxide colorants) — mineraloid / anthropogenic

Cullet (Slag Glass)

Amorphous Silica (SiO2) with various metal oxide colorants

mineraloid / anthropogenic

Carnelian (Carnelian (a variety of Chalcedony, which is a microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂)) — Mineral

Carnelian

Carnelian (a variety of Chalcedony, which is a microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂)

Terracotta (Man-made ceramic brick fragment) (Baked clay / High-iron ceramic (Silicate-based ceramic)) — Anthropogenic material (Man-made sedimentary mimic)

Terracotta (Man-made ceramic brick fragment)

Baked clay / High-iron ceramic (Silicate-based ceramic)

Anthropogenic material (Man-made sedimentary mimic)

Metal Chain (Likely Steel or a Steel Alloy) (Steel (primarily iron and carbon); specific alloy unknown) — Man-made Object (Metal/Alloy)

Metal Chain (Likely Steel or a Steel Alloy)

Steel (primarily iron and carbon); specific alloy unknown

Man-made Object (Metal/Alloy)

Amazonite (KAlSi3O8 (Potassium Feldspar, variety of Microcline)) — Mineral

Amazonite

KAlSi3O8 (Potassium Feldspar, variety of Microcline)

Asphalt (Road Aggregate) (Asphalt concrete / Bituminous mixture) — anthropogenic sedimentary (technolith)

Asphalt (Road Aggregate)

Asphalt concrete / Bituminous mixture

anthropogenic sedimentary (technolith)

Ferro-silicate Slag (Industrial Vitrified Slag (High-silica amorphous glass)) — Mineral byproduct (Anthropogenic)

Ferro-silicate Slag

Industrial Vitrified Slag (High-silica amorphous glass)

Mineral byproduct (Anthropogenic)

Iron Slag (Ferrous Slag (Silicate/Oxide mixture)) — industrial byproduct (anthropogenic)

Iron Slag

Ferrous Slag (Silicate/Oxide mixture)

industrial byproduct (anthropogenic)

Note: Item is not a geological specimen (Polyester mesh and Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer) — Synthetic / Anthropogenic Material

Note: Item is not a geological specimen

Polyester mesh and Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer

Synthetic / Anthropogenic Material

Slag (Industrial Byproduct) (Ferrous/Non-ferrous Silicate) — igneous (artificial/anthropogenic)

Slag (Industrial Byproduct)

Ferrous/Non-ferrous Silicate

igneous (artificial/anthropogenic)