Rock Identification Key

So you have a rock but you don’t know what it is? With so many different types of rocks, it can be hard to determine which rock is which.

Don’t worry though, our dichotomous rock key has you covered. This rock key has 18 common backyard rock types that you can easily use to identify rocks. 

This hands-on identification for kids uses rock properties like luster, grain size, hardness, and streak to help you determine different types of rocks, It not only uses rock properties but this ID comes with plenty of pictures, and an easy to read chart.

The rocks found on the key are:

– Anthracite (sedimentary)
– Basalt (igneous)
– Chert/Flint (sedimentary)
– Conglomerate (sedimentary)
– Diabase (igneous)
– Gabbro (igneous)
– Gneiss (metamorphic)
– Granite (metamorphic)
– Limestone (sedimentary)
– Marble (metamorphic)
– Obsidian (igneous)
– Pumice (igneous)
– Quartzite (metamorphic)
– Rhyolite (igneous)
– Sandstone (sedimentary)
– Schist (metamorphic)
– Serpentinite (metamorphic)
– Shale (semdimentary)

Or grab the full Meet the Rocks Lesson about rock properties here.