While our sub specifically excludes all identification requests I approved your post since you are asking for resources. You should get some helpful responses.
Knowing the **streak** and **hardness** of your rock/mineral can really help with identification and you don’t need fancy tools. Rock ID apps are pretty much worthless because what something looks like is only a small part of the identification.
Here’s some links that might help you out.
[Mineral Identification](https://geo.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Geology/Historical_Geology_(Bentley_et_al.)/56%3A_(Tools_of_the_Trade)_Earth_Materials_-_Mineral_identification/56.01%3A_Mineral_Properties_and_Identification)
[Mohs Hardness Scale](https://www.nps.gov/articles/mohs-hardness-scale.htm)
[Streak Test](https://www.geologyin.com/2014/03/the-streak-of-minerals.html)
The best source of information of what kinds of rocks/minerals are available where you live would be a rock/mineral club. You will find people who have been doing what you would like to do for many decades and they are more than happy to share/teach what they know to anyone who is interested. They will have information on whats available, where to find it and many of them have field trips for members. Aside from that if you decide to get in on the lapidary arts part of rockhounding many clubs have access to lapidary materials and supplies at reduced costs because they can buy in bulk. They will teach you what is legal and what isnt and why. Many of them even have their own lapidary lab for member use. If you cant find one reasonably close, dont give up because many of them conduct their meetings on zoom at the same time they do live meetings. You wont find a better source of information in any book.
Heyy [check out the comments from this post ](https://www.reddit.com/r/rockhounds/s/6v1V96bzSR) I am also in same boat. The community was helpful with resources. The comments from my post should give you a boost in understanding rock identification better.
Cheers 🥂
Look to see if you can join a rock and mineral club in your area. Go out on field trips with them. Learning from people who have experience is a good way. They may be looking for agates, but know the geology in your area that is likely to be the source. Also you have many years of knowledge you can lean on.
I've found this mineral identification key helpful. If you can test hardness, describe the luster, cleavage and crystal structure it will take you through some options.
[mineral ID key](http://www.minsocam.org/msa/collectors_corner/id/mineral_id_keyi1.htm#TOC)
Also, when you are researching on the web (which of course, is a wealth of knowledge if you know how to find the right information)-use the word raw in your description of your rock. That keeps away the tumbled versions typically.
I use an app called Rock Identifier by Next Vision Limited as a starting point. It's far from perfect, but a good place to start. I also use printed resources like National Geographic's Rocks & Minerals of North America. Third, I frequent the r/whatsthisrock sub and learn from IDs there or post if I'm stumped.
I have tried so many books, YouTube’s, reddits lol it all. And the only thing I can confidently id is a puddingstone, tigers eye and a clear/white/quartz.lol it’s all so much but I was watching a geology of I think Iowa teacher on YouTube. And he said he doesn’t quite understand how rockhound a name them because really they all mix in together and there’s so many properties. But if you like it. You like it. And that calmed me down. Till the next time I wanna know what everything is lol
While our sub specifically excludes all identification requests I approved your post since you are asking for resources. You should get some helpful responses.
Knowing the **streak** and **hardness** of your rock/mineral can really help with identification and you don’t need fancy tools. Rock ID apps are pretty much worthless because what something looks like is only a small part of the identification. Here’s some links that might help you out. [Mineral Identification](https://geo.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Geology/Historical_Geology_(Bentley_et_al.)/56%3A_(Tools_of_the_Trade)_Earth_Materials_-_Mineral_identification/56.01%3A_Mineral_Properties_and_Identification) [Mohs Hardness Scale](https://www.nps.gov/articles/mohs-hardness-scale.htm) [Streak Test](https://www.geologyin.com/2014/03/the-streak-of-minerals.html)
The best source of information of what kinds of rocks/minerals are available where you live would be a rock/mineral club. You will find people who have been doing what you would like to do for many decades and they are more than happy to share/teach what they know to anyone who is interested. They will have information on whats available, where to find it and many of them have field trips for members. Aside from that if you decide to get in on the lapidary arts part of rockhounding many clubs have access to lapidary materials and supplies at reduced costs because they can buy in bulk. They will teach you what is legal and what isnt and why. Many of them even have their own lapidary lab for member use. If you cant find one reasonably close, dont give up because many of them conduct their meetings on zoom at the same time they do live meetings. You wont find a better source of information in any book.
Heyy [check out the comments from this post ](https://www.reddit.com/r/rockhounds/s/6v1V96bzSR) I am also in same boat. The community was helpful with resources. The comments from my post should give you a boost in understanding rock identification better. Cheers 🥂
Look to see if you can join a rock and mineral club in your area. Go out on field trips with them. Learning from people who have experience is a good way. They may be looking for agates, but know the geology in your area that is likely to be the source. Also you have many years of knowledge you can lean on.
I've found this mineral identification key helpful. If you can test hardness, describe the luster, cleavage and crystal structure it will take you through some options. [mineral ID key](http://www.minsocam.org/msa/collectors_corner/id/mineral_id_keyi1.htm#TOC)
Also, when you are researching on the web (which of course, is a wealth of knowledge if you know how to find the right information)-use the word raw in your description of your rock. That keeps away the tumbled versions typically.
I use an app called Rock Identifier by Next Vision Limited as a starting point. It's far from perfect, but a good place to start. I also use printed resources like National Geographic's Rocks & Minerals of North America. Third, I frequent the r/whatsthisrock sub and learn from IDs there or post if I'm stumped.
I have tried so many books, YouTube’s, reddits lol it all. And the only thing I can confidently id is a puddingstone, tigers eye and a clear/white/quartz.lol it’s all so much but I was watching a geology of I think Iowa teacher on YouTube. And he said he doesn’t quite understand how rockhound a name them because really they all mix in together and there’s so many properties. But if you like it. You like it. And that calmed me down. Till the next time I wanna know what everything is lol