This site features Flash animations that illustrate various facets of the rock cycle. The visualizations depict rock-forming processes, such as erosion, transportation, deposition, cementation, crystallization,...

This hands-on activity covers the basics of rock identification. After a brief discussion of the terms 'rock' and 'mineral', students will study the characteristics and classifications of the three major rock groups...

This identification key has been designed to assist teachers, students, or collectors in the identification of rocks. It consists of a series of "yes/no/then go to" questions that pertain to observations of structure,...

Authors J. Hadjigeorgiou, D. Milne, and R. Pakalnis introduce different rock mass characterizations and how they play a vital role in rock engineering. This paper discusses the use of three main classification systems by...

Created by Edwin F. Harp and Gerald F. Wieczorek of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), this resource is an effort to assess the stability of a section of the Aspen Forest Trail to Betatakin Ruins, Navajo...