Rocks are an important part of Earth’s surface and tell us a lot about geology, landscapes, and natural history. From hard granite and dark basalt to layered sandstone and beautiful marble, rock names cover many different materials and formations. This complete list of 480 rock names is organized into simple categories to make the topic easier to understand. You will find igneous, volcanic, sedimentary, metamorphic, pyroclastic, breccia, conglomerate, and specialized rock names. Whether you are studying geology, building a collection, or simply learning about rocks, these rock names offer a useful reference.
Common Igneous Rock Names
These igneous rock names include well-known rocks formed when molten material cools and solidifies.
- Adakite
- Andesite
- Anorthosite
- Aplite
- Basanite
- Basalt
- Blairmorite
- Boninite
- Carbonatite
- Charnockite
- Dacite
- Diorite
- Essexite
- Foidolite
- Gabbro
- Granite
- Granodiorite
- Harzburgite
- Hawaiite
- Icelandite
- Ijolite
- Komatiite
- Larvikite
- Leucite
- Leucitite
- Lherzolite
- Monzonite
- Nepheline syenite
- Norite
- Peridotite
- Picrite
- Quartz diorite
- Quartz monzonite
- Quartz syenite
- Rhyolite
- Syenite
- Tonalite
- Troctolite
- Ultramafic rock
- Websterite
- Basaltic andesite
- Basaltic trachyandesite
- Benmoreite
- Basanitoid
- Bingamite
- Foid monzonite
- Foid syenite
- Latite
- Mugearite
- Mugearitic basalt
- Phonolite
- Potassic trachybasalt
- Sannaitic trachyte
- Shoshonite
- Trachyandesite
- Trachybasalt
- Trachydacite
- Trachyte
- Tephrite
- Tefrite phonolite
- Tonalitic lava
- Aegirine phonolite
- Alkaline basalt
- Alkali basalt
- Alkali rhyolite
- Ankaramite
- Amygdaloidal basalt
- Picrobasalt
- Nephelinite
- Melilitite
- Melilite nephelinite
- Leucite basalt
- Leucite tephrite
- Leucite phonolite
- Olivine basalt
- Tholeiite
- Tholeiitic basalt
- Hawaiianite
- Limbergite
- Nephelinite lava
Intrusive Rock Names
Intrusive rocks cool beneath the surface, often forming larger crystals as the magma cools slowly. These names are common in detailed geology lists.
- Alkali feldspar granite
- Alkali feldspar syenite
- Alkali gabbro
- Anorthositic gabbro
- Appinite
- Augite syenite
- Charnockite granite
- Dolerite
- Essextite
- Feldspathic peridotite
- Foid-bearing gabbro
- Gabbronorite
- Hornblendite
- Hypersthene gabbro
- Larvikite granite
- Monzogabbro
- Norite gabbro
- Olivine gabbro
- Orthopyroxenite
- Plagioclasite
- Pyroxenite
- Quartz anorthosite
- Quartz gabbro
- Quartz norite
- Quartzolite
- Syenogabbro
- Troctolitic gabbro
- Uralsite
- Wehrlite
- Dunite
- Clinopyroxenite
- Websteritic peridotite
- Harzburgitic peridotite
- Lherzolitic peridotite
- Olivine websterite
- Hornblende peridotite
- Mica peridotite
- Biotite granite
- Muscovite granite
- Pegmatite
- Agglomerate
- Ash tuff
- Lapilli tuff
- Crystal tuff
- Lithic tuff
- Welded tuff
- Ignimbrite
- Vitric tuff
- Pumice tuff
- Lapillistone
- Tuff breccia
- Volcanic breccia
- Pyroclastic breccia
- Volcanic sandstone
- Volcanic conglomerate
- Scoria
- Pumice
- Obsidian
- Pitchstone
- Perlite
- Reticulite
- Fiamme-rich ignimbrite
- Block-and-ash flow deposit
- Surge deposit
- Fallout tuff
- Air-fall tuff
- Welded ignimbrite
- Crystal-rich tuff
- Lithic-rich tuff
- Vitric-rich tuff
- Lapilli-bearing tuff
- Co-ignimbrite tuff
- Rhyolitic tuff
- Dacitic tuff
- Andesitic tuff
- Basaltic tuff
- Trachytic tuff
- Phonolitic tuff
- Pumiceous ignimbrite
- Palagonite tuff
Clastic Sedimentary Rock Names
Sedimentary rocks can form when sediments are deposited, compacted, and cemented over time. This group includes many familiar rock names.
- Conglomerate
- Breccia
- Sandstone
- Shale
- Siltstone
- Mudstone
- Claystone
- Arkose
- Greywacke
- Wacke
- Quartz arenite
- Quartz sandstone
- Feldspathic sandstone
- Lithic sandstone
- Subarkose
- Subgraywacke
- Diamictite
- Tillite
- Paraconglomerate
- Orthoconglomerate
- Polymictic conglomerate
- Oligomictic conglomerate
- Intraformational conglomerate
- Matrix-supported conglomerate
- Clast-supported conglomerate
- Pebbly sandstone
- Pebble conglomerate
- Cobble conglomerate
- Boulder conglomerate
- Mudstone breccia
- Sandstone breccia
- Shale breccia
- Siltstone breccia
- Claystone breccia
- Volcaniclastic sandstone
- Volcaniclastic siltstone
- Volcaniclastic mudstone
- Turbidite
- Flysch
- Molasse
- Limestone
- Dolostone
- Dolomite rock
- Chert
- Flint
- Jasperoid
- Travertine
- Tufa
- Calcareous tufa
- Calcrete
- Diatomite
- Radiolarite
- Phosphorite
- Phosphate rock
- Evaporite
- Gypsum rock
- Anhydrite rock
- Halite rock
- Rock salt
- Potash evaporite
- Sylvinite
- Carnallite rock
- Kieserite rock
- Trona
- Nahcolite
- Borate evaporite
- Niter rock
- Barite rock
- Banded iron formation
- Ironstone
- Oolite
- Oolitic limestone
- Pisolitic limestone
- Coquina
- Micrite
- Wackestone
- Packstone
- Grainstone
- Mudstone limestone
- Marl
Organic and Biochemical Rock Names
These rock names include rocks associated with organic material, fossils, shells, algae, and other biological sources.
- Coal
- Lignite
- Sub-bituminous coal
- Bituminous coal
- Anthracite
- Peat rock
- Bog iron
- Shell limestone
- Fossiliferous limestone
- Coral limestone
- Crinoidal limestone
- Brachiopod limestone
- Algal limestone
- Reef limestone
- Chalk
- Coccolith limestone
- Foraminiferal limestone
- Molluscan limestone
- Oyster limestone
- Bryozoan limestone
- Stromatolitic limestone
- Microbial limestone
- Oncolitic limestone
- Bioclastic limestone
- Biomicrite
- Biosparite
- Calcareous mudstone
- Calcareous shale
- Organic-rich shale
- Black shale
- Oil shale
- Tar sand
- Oil-bearing sandstone
- Carbonaceous shale
- Carbonaceous mudstone
- Sapropelite
- Kerogen-rich shale
- Fossiliferous marl
- Calcareous sandstone
- Shell hash limestone
Foliated Metamorphic Rock Names
Metamorphic rocks change from older rocks through heat, pressure, and related geological processes. Foliated rocks commonly show a layered or aligned texture.
- Slate
- Phyllite
- Mica schist
- Chlorite schist
- Talc schist
- Sericite schist
- Biotite schist
- Muscovite schist
- Garnet schist
- Glaucophane schist
- Eclogite
- Blueschist
- Greenschist
- Amphibolite
- Hornblende schist
- Kyanite schist
- Staurolite schist
- Sillimanite schist
- Graphite schist
- Quartz-mica schist
- Pelite schist
- Pelitic schist
- Metapelite
- Metapsammite
- Metamarl
- Metasiltstone
- Metashale
- Metaconglomerate
- Metabreccia
- Metaquartzite
- Mylonitic schist
- Gneiss
- Paragneiss
- Orthogneiss
- Augen gneiss
- Migmatitic gneiss
- Banded gneiss
- Leptynite
- Kinzigite
- Granitic gneiss
Non-Foliated Metamorphic Rock Names
These metamorphic rock names include rocks that commonly lack strong planar layering and can develop through heat, pressure, fluids, or contact metamorphism.
- Marble
- Quartzite
- Hornfels
- Skarn
- Granofels
- Metacalcarenite
- Metadolostone
- Metachert
- Meta-arkose
- Meta-graywacke
- Metasandstone
- Metabasalt
- Metadolerite
- Metagabbro
- Metadiorite
- Metagranite
- Metarhyolite
- Meta-andesite
- Metatonalite
- Metamudstone
- Calc-silicate rock
- Wollastonite rock
- Rodingite
- Serpentinite
- Soapstone
- Steatite
- Talc carbonate rock
- Listvenite
- Epidote rock
- Jadeitite
- Chloritoid schist
- Metarodingite
- Granulite
- Pyroxene granulite
- Felsic granulite
- Mafic granulite
- Charno-enderbite
- Charnockitic gneiss
- Contact aureole rock
- Sanidinite
Fault and Impact Rock Names
These specialized rock names are associated with fault zones, impacts, deformation, hydrothermal activity, and strong alteration.
- Pseudotachylite
- Cataclasite
- Ultracataclasite
- Protocataclasite
- Mylonite
- Ultramylonite
- Blastomylonite
- Fault breccia
- Fault gouge
- Tectonic breccia
- Impact breccia
- Suevite
- Impact melt rock
- Impactite
- Shocked quartzite
- Frictionite
- Hydrothermal breccia
- Hydrothermal quartz rock
- Silicified rock
- Siliceous sinter
- Geyserite
- Opaline sinter
- Travertine breccia
- Carbonate breccia
- Ore breccia
- Iron-rich breccia
- Jasper breccia
- Chert breccia
- Pipe breccia
- Karst breccia
- Collapse breccia
- Cave breccia
- Solution-collapse breccia
- Mélange
- Olistostrome
- Mélange matrix rock
- Metasomatic rock
- Greisen
- Fenite
- Argillic rock
- Clastolite
- Diamictite matrix
- Debris-flow breccia
- Debris-flow conglomerate
- Lahar deposit
- Laharic breccia
- Laharic conglomerate
- Volcanic debris breccia
- Epiclastic breccia
- Epiclastic conglomerate
- Intraclastic limestone
- Intraclastic breccia
- Flat-pebble conglomerate
- Edgewise conglomerate
- Puddingstone
- Rubble breccia
- Crackle breccia
- Mosaic breccia
- Jigsaw breccia
- Monomictic breccia
- Polymictic breccia
- Matrix-rich breccia
- Clast-rich breccia
- Sedimentary breccia
- Conglomeratic sandstone
- Pebbly mudstone
- Pebbly siltstone
- Diamictic mudstone
- Debrisite
- Mass-transport deposit
- Debris-flow deposit
- Grain-flow deposit
- Storm gravel
- Beach conglomerate
- Alluvial conglomerate
- Fluvial conglomerate
- Fan conglomerate
- Glacial conglomerate
- Glacial breccia
- Ice-contact sediment
Specialized Rock Names
This final group brings together specialized metamorphic, migmatitic, alkaline, and unusual geological rock names.
- Eclogitic rock
- Blueschist facies rock
- Greenschist facies rock
- Amphibolite facies rock
- Granulite facies rock
- Zeolite facies rock
- Prehnite-pumpellyite rock
- Glaucophane rock
- Lawsonite blueschist
- Omphacite eclogite
- Quartz eclogite
- Garnet amphibolite
- Epidote amphibolite
- Actinolite rock
- Tremolite rock
- Serpentinite mélange
- Metamorphic breccia
- Metamorphic conglomerate
- Metavolcanic rock
- Metavolcaniclastic rock
- Metaigneous rock
- Metasedimentary rock
- Migmatite
- Diatexite
- Metatexite
- Leucosome-rich migmatite
- Restite-rich migmatite
- Anatectic granite
- Anatectic gneiss
- Aplite dike rock
- Pegmatitic granite
- Tourmaline granite
- Greisenized granite
- Albitite
- Fenitized granite
- Carbonatite breccia
- Lamprophyre
- Lamproite
- Kimberlite
- Kalsilite-bearing rock
Conclusion
These 480 rock names show how broad the world of geology can be. From familiar granite, basalt, sandstone, and limestone to specialized rocks such as eclogite, ignimbrite, pseudotachylite, and kimberlite, each name represents a different geological setting, composition, texture, or formation process.
If you are building a rock collection, studying Earth science, creating a geology project, or simply looking for rock names, this list gives you a wide range of useful choices. The categories make it easier to compare igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, volcanic, and specialized rocks while learning more about the materials that make up our planet.
Eddy is a professional content writer with over 10 years of experience creating engaging, informative, and reader-focused content across a wide range of topics. Throughout his career, he has developed a strong reputation for producing well-researched, original, and easy-to-understand articles that help readers find the information they need quickly and confidently.
