

Unable to identify a rock, mineral, or fossil? We may be able to help you but due to the high volume of requests we receive, we must ask that all inquiries be made via email by carefully following the instructions below. Quartz will resist scratching from a steel nail. Quartz also occurs commonly throughout the state.Ĭalcite is another common mineral that often occurs as crystals within limestone. Chert, of which flint is one type, is composed of the mineral quartz.Ĭhert will scratch glass and resist scratching from a steel nail. The most common sedimentary rocks in Missouri are limestone, its cousin dolostone, also known as dolomite, and sandstone.Ĭhert is a common mineral associated with limestones and dolostones. These occur in northern Missouri where ancient glaciers deposited some igneous and metamorphic rocks eroded from the far northern U.S. Francois Mountains of southeastern Missouri, where there are red Precambrian igneous rocks, your rock is probably sedimentary. Unless you found your specimen in the St. Sedimentary rocks underlie most of Missouri. They also have a rock and mineral resource list with more pictures, descriptions and maps.
#Meteorite identification pictures pdf#
The Missouri Geological Survey has a PDF brochure on rocks and minerals. You’ve found an interesting rock, mineral or fossil.

If you’re a hopeless optimist and think you’ve found a meteorite, visit Dr.

It is best to follow the self test resources provided for you in the next paragraph. This is why we can almost conclusively say that you did not find a meteorite! We do not have a meteorite expert on our faculty. On average, you’re eight times more likely to die from a lightning strike in Missouri than to find a meteorite.Thus, 20 times as many people have won $1 million dollars in the Missouri Lottery as have found meteorites in Missouri. Four hundred and sixty-five (465) Missouri residents have won jackpots of $1 million or more since 1987.Fewer than 30 meteorites have been found since 1807.These all work against meteorite preservation. On top of that, Missouri has a humid climate, dense vegetation and diverse seasons.
