Curlie

Rocks and Minerals

Rocks and Minerals includes the scientific studies of mineralogy and petrology. The category also includes web sites devoted to the appreciation, acquisition, and collecting of precious stones, including rockhounding.

Please note that rock and mineral dealers should only submit to an appropriate category under Shopping.

Gemstone

This category is for information about gemstones and their properties. Gemstones are generally regarded as: Polished fragments of 'precious' and 'semi-precious' minerals, used for decorative purposes. Examples of Precious Stones: Diamonds / Sapphires / Rubies / Emeralds Examples of Semi-Precious Stones: Topaz / Garnet / Spinels. Examples of Other stones used as gems: Jade / Agate / Opal

This category is for information. Do not submit Shopping sites here.

Sites offering retail sale of gemstones should be submitted to Shopping/Jewelry/Supplies/Gemstones. Sites offering loose gemstones at wholesale should be submitted to this category in Business.

Igneous Petrology

Any sites related to Igneous rocks and their study, rather than individual minerals, unless discussed in an entirely igneous setting.

Metamorphic Petrology

Any sites related to Metamorphic rocks and their study, rather than individual minerals unless discussed in an entirely metamorphic setting. Metamorphic Rocks include: Slate, Gnieiss, Schist, Phyllite, Migmatite, Granulite, Marble, Quartzite.

Meteorites

A Meteorite is a fragment of rock (often with a very high metallic content) that has its origins in outer space.

Minerals

Web sites about minerals and mineralogy.

Please submit only sites related to minerals and mineralogy in this category. Sites selling minerals should be listed under Science:Earth Sciences:Geology:Rocks and Minerals:Shop or Science:Earth Sciences:Geology:Rocks and Minerals:Minerals:Dealers. Gemstone related sites or sites selling gemstones should be listed under Science:Earth Sciences:Geology:Rocks and Minerals:Gemstone or Shopping:Jewelry:Supplies:Gemstones.

Non-Metallic Deposits

Examples of non-metallic rocks and minerals of economic interest include coal, gemstones, construction aggregate (gravel or riprap), building stone, salt, gypsum and anhydrite, industrial-grade clays, fluorspar, phosphate, nitrate, and barite. Peat moss is included here because it is a fossil resource (i.e., it is mined faster than it is formed) similar in many respects to coal.

Rockhounds

Rockhounding is the pursuit of colorful stones and minerals for collections, decorations, and making objects of art, including jewelry.

Please submit only websites devoted to the appreciation, acquisition, and collecting of precious stones for their express use as specimens, decorations, or objects of art and/or jewelry.

If your website is designed to buy or sell these items, please submit it to: Science/Earth Sciences/Geology/Rocks and Minerals/Shopping

See also: Science/Earth Sciences/Geology/Rocks_and_Minerals

Rock and Mineral Localities

Principally for sites that describe a mineral setting, whether it be from a collectors view point, or the description of a mineral holotype. Holotype : The locality that describes the mineral - usually where it was first discovered.

Sedimentary Petrology

Sedimentary rocks are those rocks which form at or near the earth's surface at relatively low temperatures and pressures primarily by either: 1.Deposition by water, wind or ice; 2.precipitation from solution (may be biologically mediated); and /or 3.growth in position by organic processes (e.g., carbonate reefs). Examples include sandstone, limestone, shale, dolomite, and rock salt.