This is Black Opal under a microscope at 250 magnification. This is one of my favorites one. It looks like scales and and acrylic paint mixed together.

I got these at World's View in Nyanga, Zimbabwe (ft. giant rose quartz rock below and a clear quartz behind)

We got this geode breaking kit from the toy store. It’s a National Geographic STEM toy, but it’s really just an awesome way to smash stuff with a hammer. I’m still a kid when the inside of a geode is revealed. It literally makes my heart skip a beat. Wow! Look at all the crazy crystals in there! Even they’re not super remarkable, it’s so cool these things just naturally form. Check out my 6 year old making papa proud and investigating her new geodes 🥹

Quartz (SiO2 or silica dioxide) is the most ubiquitous minerals on the planet. It’s a simple compound that has thousands of practical uses for humans. I could go on forever. You should really watch this video if you’re interested: https://youtu.be/A41wVJaYnRU?si=T8JkEUrFcDD8RXVm Anyway, I like mundane rocks. Sometimes the most beautiful interesting rocks are just hanging out in planters beds in a strip mall. It’s amazing how many people pass over what I interpret as pure miracles of millions of years of geologic activity. This little guy was probably just on the sidewalk or something. I don’t remember where. But I found broken like this. When did it break? A year ago? 5? 100? Who knows!

Hey Rockheads! Been awhile. My bad I’ve had a lot going on. Anyway- this is one of my favorite rocks I own for a whole bunch of reasons. Most importantly though, is it’s incredible iridescence. Iridescence is what Labradorite is famous for. These rocks look like boring old black or dark blue chunks. Then, hold them up to the light and BAM! INCREDIBLE SHINY 3D IRIDESCENCE. I got this at a flea market in Woodstock, NY in 2019. It was a wedding gift from my dad. I’ll cherish it forever.