Identify Rocks, Minerals, and Crystals
Found something interesting on a hike or beach? Our AI rock and mineral identifier names igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, plus gems, crystals, fossils, and meteorites. Get composition, hardness, formation, and rarity in seconds.
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Identifying a rock starts with its type, igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic, then color, texture, grain size, and any crystals or fossils. A good photo in natural light captures most of those clues. Naming a rock or mineral tells you how it formed, whether it is common or collectible, and sometimes whether it holds something valuable.
Below are the broad rock and mineral groups people most often find. Scan yours to narrow it down by type and likely identity.
Common types of rocks
A quick reference to the ones people ask about most. Not sure which you have? Snap a photo above and let the AI name it.
Igneous rocks
Formed from cooled magma or lava, like granite and basalt. Often hard, with interlocking crystals or a glassy texture.
Sedimentary rocks
Built from compressed layers, like sandstone and limestone. May contain visible grains, layering, or fossils.
Metamorphic rocks
Reshaped by heat and pressure, like marble and slate. Often banded, foliated, or noticeably harder than the original.
Quartz and common minerals
Quartz, feldspar, mica, and calcite turn up almost everywhere and are the building blocks of many rocks.
Geodes and crystals
Plain-looking rocks that are hollow and lined with crystals inside. See the crystal identifier for the contents.
Fossils in rock
Shells, plants, or bone preserved in stone, most often in sedimentary rock. The fossil identifier covers these in depth.
Why identifying rocks matters
That heavy black rock might be ordinary basalt or a meteorite. That sparkly cluster might be quartz or a rarer gem. Identification is what separates a curious find from a valuable specimen.
What helps identify rocks
Color and Luster
How a rock or mineral reflects light (metallic, glassy, dull, pearly) is one of the most distinguishing features.
Crystal Shape
Cubic, hexagonal, prismatic, or amorphous structure points to specific mineral families: pyrite, quartz, tourmaline, obsidian.
Texture and Grain Size
Coarse vs fine grain, layered vs uniform, indicates whether a rock is igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic.
Weight and Hardness
Density and how easily a rock scratches help narrow possibilities. Mention if your sample feels unusually heavy or hard.
Rock or mineral?
A mineral is a single, naturally formed substance with a defined chemical makeup, like quartz or pyrite. A rock is a solid mix of one or more minerals, like granite, which is mostly quartz, feldspar, and mica. So a quartz crystal is a mineral, while the granite boulder it grew in is a rock. The AI tells you which you are looking at.
Photo tips for the best identification
- 1Photograph the specimen on a plain background in natural light.
- 2Include both a wide shot and a close-up of any crystals or interesting textures.
- 3If the rock has multiple sides, include 2-3 angles. Color and structure can vary.
- 4Note where you found it. Beach, mountain, desert, riverbed all give big clues.
Frequently asked questions
Can it identify gemstones?
Yes. Common gems like amethyst, citrine, tourmaline, garnet, and turquoise are recognized. Cut and polished stones are easier than rough specimens.
What about fossils?
Common fossils (ammonites, trilobites, shark teeth, plant impressions) are identified, along with the geological era they come from.
Could my rock be a meteorite?
Meteorites are rare but the AI can flag candidates based on visual features (fusion crust, regmaglypts, magnetism). For confirmation, get it tested by a professional.
Identify rocks on the go
Get the What Is This app for unlimited scans, offline mode, and a history that syncs.
Related rocks identifiers
Crystals identifier
Snap a photo of any crystal — raw, tumbled, or cluster — and AI names the species. Quartz, amethyst, citrine, calcite, fluorite, and 200+ more.
Gemstones identifier
Snap a photo of a cut or rough stone and AI names the gem. Diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald, topaz, garnet, peridot, and dozens more.