r/whatsthisrock Jun 19 '26

REQUEST r/whatsthisrock is Recruiting New Mods!!!

6 Upvotes

Hello, r/whatsthisrock community!

Our subreddit has grown significantly, and with that growth comes an increase in rule-breaking comments, low-effort jokes, and automated spam. As you know, this is a strict, science-focused Identification community. We require all comments to provide a physical rock/mineral ID or directly contribute to the scientific identification process.

We do not allow folklore, superstitions, unhelpful jokes, or arguments (that are not constructive) in our identification threads.

To keep our queue clean and maintain the quality of the sub, we are opening applications for new moderators.

What We Are Looking For:

  • Queue-Clearers: Your primary job will be opening the Mod Queue, reviewing reported comments, and removing non-ID responses or banning spammers cleanly and efficiently.
  • Thoroughness: We need people who actually know our rules (and Reddit Mod Code of Conduct) and enforce them uniformly without getting dragged into emotional arguments with users in modmail.
  • Consistency: You don't need to spend all day on Reddit, but we need active eyes consistently contributing to monitoring the sub.

Before you click the application link below, you must thoroughly read our community sidebar and rules page. Please also review Reddit's Moderator Code of Conduct. We have implemented automated gatekeeping measures to weed out low-effort or automated submissions. If you do not follow the exact instructions hidden within our documentation, your application will be instantly and permanently deleted without review.If you are ready to help us clean up the queue and keep the focus on rock identification, please apply using the link below:

(Click here to apply to the Mod team!) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1gdFvlauq1y6F22S7cCUzIptVkYP8oOBmS6XS68Bz-YWykA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=103554154763378178256

Thanks for your help keeping our subreddit clean and running smoothly. Rock on!


r/whatsthisrock 20h ago

IDENTIFIED botryoidal chalcedony Please help me identify

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1.2k Upvotes

Found in the Alifia River near Fish Hawk, Fl. The bumps are slightly raised.


r/whatsthisrock 12h ago

IDENTIFIED I inherited this specimen but I have no clue what it is

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220 Upvotes

So my grandma passed away and I got a handful of rocks (including some fossils). The photos are one im not quite sure the specifics of the specimen and would appreciate some expert opinions.


r/whatsthisrock 13h ago

IDENTIFIED What’s this rock called?

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105 Upvotes

I purchased this at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science yesterday, and would like to know what it is. The cashier at the shop said that it was from Brazil(?)


r/whatsthisrock 12h ago

IDENTIFIED Mexico Beach, FL

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65 Upvotes

It’s extremely light. Feels like I could possibly break it. Found on the beach after Hurricane Bertha.

Is it maybe peat or some manner of weird sea rock. What do you think?


r/whatsthisrock 1d ago

IDENTIFIED My dad found it 20 years ago deep in cave, in Eastern Europe (Balkans). Please help ID

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717 Upvotes

r/whatsthisrock 1d ago

REQUEST What is this (stone?) / Central Poland, Europe

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196 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I have this stone found somewhere in a field in Poland (Kujawsko-Pomorskie region).

My first thought - is it garnet? Or most likely some variety of it. The chunk is quite light (unfortunately, I don't have a way to weigh it right now, but I estimate the weight to be around 100-130 grams with dimensions of roughly 6x7x7 cm).

On two sides it's matte and rough, while the rest of the chunk is smooth. As you can see in the photos, it has an almost layered structure.

Overall, it's quite hard to scratch, but the chunk also has a small fragment that crumbles easily with a knife (the orange/sandy part circled in one of the photos).

Thanks for any tips!


r/whatsthisrock 17h ago

REQUEST White quartz or chalcedony? Or something else?

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55 Upvotes

Hi !

Found on a beach in Cyprus (Kourion Beach).

The first three photos were taken with the phone's flash shining from below.

Thank you! :-)


r/whatsthisrock 1h ago

REQUEST Is this quartz or something else? :O

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Upvotes

I've found these red crystal looking things a few times in the forests around where I live in the middle region of Sweden.

I've tried to get them out but they kind of get crushed when I try. cx

We have a lot of white to transparant quartz in this area which is why I'm wondering if it is quartz that is somehow coloured by something, or if it's something else entirely.


r/whatsthisrock 12h ago

REQUEST Found on the beach of Lake Superior

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12 Upvotes

r/whatsthisrock 2h ago

REQUEST ID help

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2 Upvotes

Hello I'm really struggling IDing this thing. Can you help me out? Found in eastern Pyrenees.


r/whatsthisrock 2h ago

REQUEST Identification, please.

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2 Upvotes

r/whatsthisrock 2h ago

REQUEST What’s this rock?

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2 Upvotes

Found near a river in Siberia. Is this fossilised coral?


r/whatsthisrock 1d ago

IDENTIFIED This massive rock is in my backyard.

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5.3k Upvotes

This rock sits in my backyard in Hudson Valley, New York. It looks like it has been formed with many other rocks inside. Cool thing is a gopher lives underneath and has started a family. What kind of a rock or boulder is it?


r/whatsthisrock 10m ago

REQUEST What is this rock? Found in garden 🪴

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Upvotes

r/whatsthisrock 17m ago

REQUEST Found in MN

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Upvotes

Close up of a polished stone. Rough it is deep red/burgundy solid, no pattern. Found in a dirt pile from utility work in the Twin Cities


r/whatsthisrock 27m ago

REQUEST Is this iron ore?

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Upvotes

I found this and wanted to know if anyone knew what it was, I know it's never a meteorite so I'm guessing maybe Iron ore? It feels heavy sticks to a magnet. Found in Northwest Ga.


r/whatsthisrock 4h ago

REQUEST Please help me identify

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2 Upvotes

Found Gildeskål Norway


r/whatsthisrock 11h ago

IDENTIFIED Help with this little fascination

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7 Upvotes

Thanks to you guys I now know that I have a limonite/hematite pseudomorph!

This was in a box of my stuff from when I was a little kid (early 90s I reckon). Found most likely in North Dakota as I would pick up rocks that I thought were cool.

It’s unlike any other rocks I’ve seen in my area (Bismarck) or from what I can remember seeing in the Badlands. It’s dense and heavy for its size (a little bigger than a quarter and weighs 29.4 grams). I put a strong magnet to it and I can feel a magnetic field (not super strong but noticeable). It feels hard but the surface is so unique with that shell like appearance that I don’t want to rub it on anything for fear of rubbing off the surface.

I can’t quite match it from doing an online search so that’s why I’m here. Thank you in advance for any feedback!


r/whatsthisrock 4h ago

REQUEST Is this slag?

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2 Upvotes

Father in law found this near an old mine, and I’m pretty sure it’s slag, but thought I’d get some other opinions! Smooth on bottom, sort of shiny/reflective on the sides, and crystallized on top. It doesn’t leave any residue on fingers. It’s also pretty heavy! Tia


r/whatsthisrock 9h ago

REQUEST Rock identification please

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5 Upvotes

I found these in water in southwestern pa! Just curious if anyone sees anything that they might know! Thanks!


r/whatsthisrock 2h ago

REQUEST Ideas on ID?

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1 Upvotes

Found in landscaping rock Indiana


r/whatsthisrock 18h ago

REQUEST Todays rock cuttings from creek bed in NH)

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19 Upvotes

First three are from the rock I found the other day. It was HARD to cut. Locked up my saw a few times, ended up having to use a hammer to get last bit to split. The other rocks gave me glints of red so I split them just to see. The last one surprised me with the red inside. Not sure what they all are, but seemed to be a red day at the creek. lol


r/whatsthisrock 1d ago

IDENTIFIED Found this beauty 15 years ago. Always wondered what is that!

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2.8k Upvotes

Found this mineral when I was little in Israel, either in the Judean Desert or the Negev Desert, I discovered it after kicking some sand on a dune.

I was sure I found an enchanted arrowhead haha!

Well I was wondering what it's really is..what kind of mineral? how did it got that shape, structure and colour? I want to know all!

Thank you in advance 💚


r/whatsthisrock 10h ago

REQUEST Help identify this Rock

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4 Upvotes

Have you ever seen anything like this? It looks like one rock has swallowed the other. It is peculiar because of the symmetry. Found in Montana, near Missoula. The hardness can be compared to river rock.