Vermont Amateur Rock & Fossil Collectors

A small local club for mineral, fossil, and old quarry enthusiasts around Vermont.

Identification Guide

This is a basic club guide only. It is not a substitute for a proper geology reference, but it can be useful at the kitchen table after a field trip.

  • Try a simple Mohs hardness check before guessing by color alone.
  • A streak plate can be more helpful than surface shine on weathered samples.
  • If it fizzes with weak acid, write that down before washing the specimen.
  • Label the location as soon as you bag a find. We keep forgetting otherwise.