A little knowledge of rocks and minerals will help you identify everything from jewelry to fossils. While reading this article may not turn you into a geologist, it should give you the basic ...

Minerals aren’t just in rocks—they’re in your house, your food, even your body! From aluminum cans to toothpaste, and calcium to iron, discover how minerals shape the world around us and why they’re ...

"The key for identification of rock-forming minerals provides an efficient and systematic approach to identifying minerals in thin-section. It is structured in the form of a dichotomous key, ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. David Bressan is a geologist who covers curiosities about Earth. The discovery of fossils in graves and in archaeological digs ...

Travertine is not only a geological wonder but also a popular building material. Its use dates back to ancient Rome, evident ...

The Science Education Center houses thousands of rock and mineral samples in what is known as "The Rock & Mineral Room." The entire collection can be viewed by clicking on each of the virtual drawers ...

If you draw with a pencil, you can tell how soft the graphite inside is. Pieces of graphite break off to leave the pencil mark. But can you imagine drawing with a diamond? Diamonds and graphite are ...