Sedimentary Or Metamorphic (Low Grade)

Browse sedimentary or metamorphic (low grade) specimens identified by the Rock Identifier community.

Chalcedony (Agate)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

mineral

Emerald

Beryl (Be3Al2(SiO3)6) with trace Chromium/Vanadium

mineral

Quartz (Clear Quartz/Rock Crystal)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

mineral

Nephrite Jade

Ca2(Mg, Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 (Magnesium-rich Tremolite-Actinolite)

metamorphic

Orange Calcite (Mexican Onyx)

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

mineral

Schist (specifically Mica Schist)

Mica Schist

metamorphic

Blue Sapphire (in a faceted jewelry setting)

Corundum (Al2O3) with trace Iron and Titanium

mineral

Corundum (Sapphire/Ruby in Matrix)

Corundum (Al2O3)

mineral

Chalcedony (Botryoidal)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

mineral

Chalcedony (Botryoidal)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

mineral

Lapis Lazuli

Complex mixture of minerals, primarily Lazurite (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(S,Cl,SO4,OH)2

metamorphic

Mica Schist

Mica Schist (Complex Silicate Rock)

metamorphic

Calcite

Calcite (CaCO3)

mineral

Sandstone or Mudstone with Iron Staining

Ferruginous Sandstone/Mudstone

Sedimentary

Greenschist

Greenschist (composed of Chlorite, Actinolite, and Epidote)

metamorphic

Calcite

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

mineral

Shale

Fissile mudstone (rich in clay minerals and quartz)

sedimentary

Serpentinite

Serpentinite (Mg, Fe, Ni)₃Si₂O―(OH)₄

metamorphic

Serpentine

Serpentinite (group of minerals: (Mg,Fe,Ni,Al,Zn,Mn)2-3(Si,Al,Fe)2O5(OH)4)

metamorphic

Quartz on Sandstone

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) in Lithic Sandstone

sedimentary

Schist (Biotite/Mica Schist)

Medium-grade regional metamorphic rock (rich in Phyllosilicates)

metamorphic

Quartzite River Rock with Dendrites

Metamorphosed Quartz-rich Sandstone with Manganese Oxide (MnO2) inclusions

metamorphic

Apatite

Apatite group mineral (e.g., Fluorapatite - Ca5(PO4)3F, Chlorapatite - Ca5(PO4)3Cl, Hydroxylapatite - Ca5(PO4)3(OH))

mineral

Ruby and Diamond in Gold Setting

Corundum (Al2O3) and Diamond (C)

mineral

Chalcedony on Matrix

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

mineral

Aragonite (Sputnik habit)

Aragonite (Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3)

mineral

Chert (often called Flint)

Microcrystalline or Cryptocrystalline Quartz (SiO2)

sedimentary

Pyrite (Fool's Gold)

Iron Sulfide (FeS2)

mineral

Chalcedony (Common Opal variant or Quartz)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

mineral

Staurolite (Fairy Cross)

Staurolite (Fe2+2Al9Si4O23(OH))

metamorphic

Milky Quartz (Water-worn Pebble)

Quartz (Silicon Dioxide) - SiO2

mineral

Gold Ore in Matrix

Native Gold (Au) in Quartz/Limonite host rock

mineral

Gold Ore in Quartz

Native Gold (Au) in Quartz (SiO2)

mineral

Serpentinite

Serpentinite (composed primarily of serpentine group minerals like lizardite, chrysotile, or antigorite; Mg3Si2O5(OH)4)

metamorphic

Quartzite Pebble

Metamorphosed Quartz Sandstone (SiO2)

metamorphic

Quartz (Iron-stained)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

mineral

Garnet Schist

Almandine-Mica Schist

metamorphic

Jade

There are two distinct minerals commonly known as Jade: Nephrite (a calcium magnesium silicate - Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2) and Jadeite (a sodium aluminum silicate - NaAlSi2O6). Based on the image showing a typically softer, more fibrous appearance, it is likely Nephrite.

Mineral