Fossil & Mineral ID Chart
FOSSIL: Petrified wood is simply wood that has turned to stone and has been preserved for millions of years by the process of petrification. The logs or wood at first became buried with sediment and other debris. The mud that covered the logs contained volcanic ash, a key ingredient in the petrification process. When the volcanic ash began to decompose it released chemicals into the water and mud. As the water seeped into the wood the chemicals from the volcanic ash reacted to the wood and formed into quartz crystals. As the crystals grew over time, the wood became encased in the crystals which, over millions of years, turned the wood into stone.

Dinosaur Bone                       Petrified Wood    
                
One of Earths natural oddities, Geodes, are sphere-shaped stones, usually at least partially hollow, and lined inside with sparkling mineral crystals or concentric layers of minerals. Millions of years ago when the Earth's crust was forming, gas pockets and cavities formed in relatively low temperatures in volatile-rich magma. After quite a while when the magma cooled and turned into rock high temperature fluids filled these gas pockets depositing minerals and causing crystals to form unobstructed during their growth and when the surrounding rock which was softer then the gas pockets was worn away, the geode was created.
You can place a geode into the end of an old sock, take it out to your driveway or sidewalk and give it a good whack with a hammer. These maybe ugly on the outside, but they are guaranteed to have crystals on the inside.
Break Your Own Geode        Geode broken open
A geode is a sphere or oval shaped rock which contains a hollow cavity lined with crystals. These geodes were sliced opened and polished to reveal the beautiful crystals inside.
MINERAL: The name calcite is from the Greek 'chalx', which means 'lime'. Calcite can be colorless, yellow, brown, white or pinky-white, red, green and various other colors. Calcite is used in the manufacture of steel, cement and glass. Blue Calcite is thought to help people speak their mind, adapt to changes in life, and express their feelings and emotions.
MINERAL: The name calcite is from the Greek 'chalx', which means 'lime'. Calcite can be colorless, yellow, brown, white or pinky-white, red, green and various other colors. Calcite is used in the manufacture of steel, cement and glass. Green calcite is said to promote healing, mental balance and communication between the intellect and the emotions.
Geode Agate Slice                Green Calcite                      Blue Calcite
MINERAL: The name calcite is from the Greek 'chalx', which means 'lime'. Calcite can be colorless, yellow, brown, white or pinky-white, red, green and various other colors. Calcite is used in the manufacture of steel, cement and glass. Orange calcite is said to make one feel happy and safe and reduces inappropriate skepticism.
ROCK: Aventurine is a metamorphic rock, meaning that it's made up of more than one mineral. In this case, Aventurine is mainly quartz, and other crystals, usually green mica. The most common colour of aventurine is green, but it may also be orange, brown, yellow, blue or gray. Aventurine is a stone of creativity, motivation, and leadership.
MINERAL: Sodalite is a dark blue mineral with streaks of white, gray, or pink. Sodalite is named in reference to its sodium content. It is used for carvings and some jewelry pieces.
Orange Calcite                          Aventurine                               Sodalite
MINERAL: Amethyst belongs to the quartz family of minerals and usually occurs in shades of purple, lilac or mauve. The color is due to the presence of ferric iron and manganese. Amethyst is a stone of peace and healing and is said to be excellent for meditation and to enhance psychic abilities.
MINERAL: A rose-pink variety or Quartz. Rose tinted quartz is caused by traces of titanium or manganese. Rose quartz is the most popular healing stone. It is the stone of unconditional love and healing.
MINERAL: The selenite rose rock is known as 'the desert rose', formed in desert areas by evaporation of rising groundwater. It is a rosette shaped form of the mineral Gypsum with sand inclusions.
Rose Quartz                          Amethyst                              Selenite Rose
MINERAL: Bornite is a mineral consisting of sulfides of copper and iron that is found in copper deposits. It has a brown to copper-red color on fresh surfaces that tarnishes to an iridescent purple surface. Its purple to bronze iridescence gives it the nickname peacock ore.
MINERAL: These round stones are a mixed variety of minerals from the Quartz family including rose quartz, smokey quarty, clear quartz, and amethyst. They are sliced on one end to expose the interior part of the stone to reveal its beautiful color inside, hence the nickname 'Windows'.
MINERAL: A common heavy mineral that is the principal ore of lead. This lustrous, blue-gray mineral crystallizes usually in cubes.
Bornite                                  Galena                          Quartz "Windows"
Mineral: These stones vary in color from pale to dark green with much iridescence throughout. Fuchsite is a dark green variety of muscovite. It can have a wonderfully dark emerald green color that can have a beautiful sparkly shine if the crystals are small. It is often found in compact masses with small crystals. The green color is the result of chromium impurities. It also thought to speed the healing process, help improve the immune system, and enhance knowledge.
   Fuchsite                     Pyrite (Fool's Gold)            Pale Amethyst Crystals      
   
TUMBLED  STONE  ID CHART
Amethyst              Rose Quartz           Aventurine               Hematite               Sodalite   
Quartz Crystal              Citrine                  Botswana                Carnelian           Snowflake  
                                                        Agate                                                 Obsidian
Petrified Wood         Turitella Fossil             Howlite            Smoky Quartz           Unakite
Blue Lace           Picture Jasper         Moss Agate          Yellow Jasper           Tiger Eye
Agate
Turquoise