Common Minerals and Rocks Identified

This is a quick look at common minerals in rocks. Minerals are the building blocks to rocks, and rocks are made of one or more minerals. There are thousands of minerals. However, just the twenty or so minerals in this video are the most common minerals. Note that there are many individual videos on rock identification on the GeologyDude channel.
The pictures in this video show some obvious differences and similarities between the rocks. Minerals are categories of 1) metallic and non-metallic luster 2) general light or dark color (based on amount of iron and magnesium in the rock) , 3) other attributes: such as magnetism, reaction to acid, density, cleavage/fracture, hardness, streak, and taste.
The rocks in this video are identified by luster (if it looks like a metal or not):
A) metallic looking minerals: pyrite, magnetite, galena, graphite, hematite, copper,
B) light color minerals that do not look metallic: quartz, plagioclase feldspar (albite), orthoclase feldspar (microcline), halite, kaolinite (kaolin), muscovite mica, gypsum, sulfur,
C) dark color metals that do not look metallic: olivine, fluorite, calcite, talc, garnet, augite (pyroxene), biotite mica, and hornblende (amphibole).
Note that some minerals can have different colors, and sometimes may be in both dark and light color categories.
This video is just a concise overview of minerals in general. If you want more details about identification, I have other videos of these rocks on GeologyDude. These other videos use photogrammetry to create a 3-D like 360 degree view effect. My initial focus on this channel is to provide a variety of ways to learn about rock identification. I will gradually expand into other geology topics, but I feel that learning about rocks is one of the key things to cover first.
Hello Rock People! This is Dave the Geology Dude. Please be aware that the only way to really learn rock identification, is to have hands-on experience. This is because visual experiences alone do not show properties like hardness, acid reactivity, and the range of variables that are common to each rock type. Don't forget that: Geology isn't Rocket Science--it's Rock Science! Please "like" and subscribe to this CZcams channel!
General identification information:
1) Rock identification is first a visual thing, but various tests--or the identification of key attributes on the mineral samples--are often needed to confirm identification. The first thing is to be aware that some rocks come in multiple colors that can look very similar to other rock types. So don't focus on identification by using only color. You will make mistakes by using only color, and it is relatively simple to learn a few additional ways to determine characteristics to improve accuracy.
2) The more types of the same rock that you see, the better you will get at knowing the parameters of each rock type. minerals are a great example of this, because there are variables in colors, textures, and fossils in many of these rocks. Repetition by looking at many rock samples will make it easier for identification. You need this to understand nuances better, and what really to focus on for certain characteristics.
3) If you are looking at all rock types, know the general ways to identify each rock category of minerals, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. After identifying the general rock category, you can go for the tests within that category to determine the rock name.
4) Most rock types have only one- to- three key characteristics that will allow identification. There are many types of characteristics, and you need to know them. But don't be overwhelmed. Eventually you will be able to look at a rock and know probably what it is before you even touch the rock. However, you need to confirm your hunches--by identifying the characteristics associated with that rock type. It is easy to be tricked at times, so don't get lazy and skip a test that could confirm a key characteristic. You need to identify characteristics too, such as grain size, types of minerals/rocks that may be in the rock, and the structures in the rock. All these features may not be always clear, but by compiling a survey of the characteristics, you have more information to make a correct identification.
Music (CZcams Audio Library): Tin Spirit (by Freedom Trail Studio)
Copyright by David Knoblach, 2022. All rights reserved (please contact me for permission to use).

[@GeologyDude]

Hello Rock People! This is Dave the Geology Dude! There is more to this video than just rock pictures and music. There are detailed notes in the description area for this video. If you want more, other rock identification videos are on my CZcams homepage. Check them out, or leave a comment here!

[@ngahoquochochue134]

so great

[@GeologyDude]

Thank you very much!

[@laughtersforever1]

Nice Video. Amazing 🤩👌

[@GeologyDude]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. Each of the rocks in this video, relate to a photogrammetry “spin” that I have published on each rock. Hundreds of photos (from different angles around an object) are meshed into a video “spin”. The results are amazing! It’s a new type of media!

[@mafic_taco7061]

Top 3 winners : orthoclase, hornblende,Halite 🥇🥈🥉

[@GeologyDude]

Yes! Those are good looking minerals! Thanks much!