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Rock Picture Gallery
IGNEOUS ROCK PICTURES (About Igneous Rocks)
AaA rugged form of basalt lava.
AndesiteThe typical intermediate arc lava.
BasaltA bubbly, crystally chunk of this igneous rock from Kilauea.
DioriteA plutonic igneous rock between granite and gabbro.
FelsiteThe volcanic version of granite.
GabbroThe crystallized, plutonic version of basalt.
GraniteThe stone that makes up the bulk of the continents.
GranodioriteAlmost diorite, except it has quartz.
Gypsum RockA crusty chunk from a Nevada roadside.
Lapilli TuffA volcanic stone formed of little ash balls.
ObsidianHand specimen of this useful volcanic glass.
PahoehoeSmooth-skinned lava smothers an old Hawaiian footpath.
PegmatiteThe igneous rocks with the biggest crystals.
PorphyryAn igneous rock with large mineral grains in a fine matrix.
PumiceAn example of this widely variable volcanic product.
PyroxeniteAn uncommon ultramafic rock from the deep seafloor.
RhyoliteThe highest-silica type of lava.
ScoriaA frothy volcanic product similar to pumice.
SyeniteA plutonic, alkalic "granite-without-quartz."
TuffThis rock made of volcanic ash can be anything but tough.
Special Galleries: Pillow Lavas, Extrusive Igneous Rocks, Granites
SEDIMENTARY ROCK PICTURES (About Sedimentary Rocks)
AgateA semiprecious chert of infinite variety.
AlabasterA polished slab of this beautiful stone.
ArkoseA raw sandstone derived from granite breakdown.
AsphaltSpecimen from a natural oil seep.
Banded Iron FormationUsually dull, it also forms dazzling "tiger iron."
BrecciaRock made of broken rocks, breccia appears in many forms.
ChertA common rock type, shown in several of its guises.
CoalIntroducing this hugely important resource.
ConglomerateRocks composed of stone-sized grains.
CoquinaLimestone composed of shell fragments.
DolomiteLimestone's close cousin.
GraywackeAn impure sandstone also called wacke.
LimestoneA roadcut displays some of this common rock type's variety.
PeatBrown, vegetative precursor to coal.
SandstoneA common sedimentary (and landscaping) rock.
ShaleA piece from southeastern New York.
SiltstoneA sedimentary rock much finer than sandstone.
TravertineA form of limestone made in springs.
Special Galleries: Sedimentary Rocks, Limestones, Coquina
METAMORPHIC ROCK PICTURES (About Metamorphic Rocks)
AmphiboliteTypically a hornblende schist.
BlueschistA distinctive metamorphic rock (and a great swear word).
EclogiteThe most extreme metamorphic rock you can find.
GneissThe hard-core metamorphic rock makes up a desert boulder.
GreenschistA low-grade metamorphic rock from northern California.
GreenstoneMetamorphosed seafloor yields this tough, dark rock.
MarbleWhen limestone becomes a metamorphic rock.
MigmatiteThe product of extreme metamorphism.
PhylliteShiny, crinkled rock made from slate at high heat and pressure.
QuartziteA boulder of this rugged stone, which comes in two types.
SchistThis metamorphic rock type occurs in tremendous variety.
SerpentiniteThe state rock of California, a museum-quality boulder of it.
SlateSlate looks a lot like shale, but it's a metamorphic rock.
Special Galleries: Metamorphic Rocks, Serpentinites
OTHER ROCKS
Chondrite MeteoriteThe commonest type of space stone.
FulguriteLightning striking sand makes this curious object.
GeodesThese rock-shop lumps promise glittering wealth within.
Iron MeteoriteA hand specimen from the Sikhote-Alin fall.
Nakhlite (Mars Meteorite)A piece of the Nakhla, Egypt, fall of 1911.
Shergottite (Mars Meteorite)A piece of Martian mantle sits in the dirt.
TektiteA real meteorite from Earth (at least that's one theory).
Thunder EggThis solid, silica-filled lump is the state stone of Oregon.
Special Galleries: Geodes, Meteorites, Fulgurites, Artificial Rocks
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