How do I know if my rock is valuable?

The Hardness Test The harder a mineral is, the more likely it is to be valuable. If you can scratch the mineral with your fingernail, it has a hardness of 2.5 Mohs, which is very soft. If you can scratch it with a penny, its hardness is 3 Mohs, and if it takes a piece of glass to scratch it, the hardness is 5.5 Mohs.

What rocks are worth collecting?

Best Rocks to Collect

• Thunder Eggs. Thunder eggs are really awesome rocks that in many ways are similar to geodes.
• Oolitic Limestone. There are plenty of sedimentary rocks worth collecting, but oolitic limestone is probably my favorite because of its unique appearance.
• Geodes.
• Obsidian.
• Tektites.
• Granite.
• Pumice.
• Conglomerate.

Are black rocks worth money?

Black rocks can be easily found in various places, including mountains and coastlines. However, a shiny black rock may not be that common. These types of rocks could be valuable gemstones or minerals that could be used for jewelries or they could also be made into a collection.

How do I know what type of rock I have?

First, decide whether your rock is igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic….Rock Identification Tips

1. Igneous rocks such as granite or lava are tough, frozen melts with little texture or layering.
2. Sedimentary rocks such as limestone or shale are hardened sediment with sandy or clay-like layers (strata).

Is quartz rocks worth anything?

Quartz’s clarity earns it a raw price of around $0.01/carat and a gem price of $1-$7/carat. Amethyst, or purple quartz, is the most valuable variety (can reach $15/carat), but pink, rose, and smokey quartz is also valuable. Clearer, more vibrant, and unbroken specimens are the most valuable quartz.

How do you price rocks and minerals?

The value of rocks and minerals is determined by how well documented and cataloged they are, the quality of the specimen, perceived rarity, and sale history. There is no set value for any specimen. Ultimately their value is determined by what someone else is willing to pay.