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Gray Rocks, Minerals & Gemstones

Found a gray rock and want a name for it? This guide lists all 143 gray rocks, minerals and gemstones in the StoneSnap database, from common finds like Labradorite, Hematite, and Slate to collector specimens.

Color alone rarely identifies a specimen, so start with luster (68 glassy, 33 dull or earthy, 30 metallic, and 12 waxy, silky or pearly in this list), then check hardness with a scratch test and streak color. Each card links to a full identification guide with tests, look-alikes and value.

Also browse:Black rocksWhite rocksBrown rocksGreen rocksPink rocksYellow rocksRed rocksBlue rocksPurple rocksOrange rocksClear rocksMulticolored rocks

Metallic gray rocks (30)

Hematite specimen: metallic gray and black mineralHematiteMohs 6 · metallic · commonAluminum specimen: silver and light gray metalAluminumMohs 2.75 · metallic · commonArsenopyrite specimen: silver-white and steel-gray mineralArsenopyriteMohs 5.5–6 · Metallic · commonBismuth specimen: silvery white and pinkish iridescent tarnish (yellow, red, blue hues) mineralBismuthMohs 2–2.5 · Metallic · commonChalcocite specimen: blackish lead-gray and black mineralChalcociteMohs 2.5–3 · Metallic · commonChrome specimen: mirror silver and blue-gray metalChromeMohs 8.5 · metallic · commonCobaltite specimen: silvery white with pink/reddish tint and steel gray mineralCobaltiteMohs 5.5 · Metallic · commonGalena specimen: lead-gray and silvery gray mineralGalenaMohs 2.5 · Metallic, bright · commonIron specimen: silver-gray and dark gray metalIronMohs 4 · metallic · commonLead specimen: bluish gray and dark gray metalLeadMohs 1.5 · metallic · commonMolybdenite specimen: lead gray and bluish gray mineralMolybdeniteMohs 1.25 · metallic · uncommonNickel specimen: silver and gray metalNickelMohs 4 · metallic · commonPewter specimen: dull silver and gray metalPewterMohs 2.5 · metallic · commonPlatinum specimen: silver and gray mineralPlatinumMohs 4.25 · metallic · legendarySilver specimen: silver white and gray mineralSilverMohs 2.75 · metallic · rareStainless Steel specimen: silver and gray metalStainless SteelMohs 5.5 · metallic · commonSterling Silver specimen: silver and white silver metalSterling SilverMohs 2.7 · metallic · commonStibnite specimen: lead gray and steel gray mineralStibniteMohs 2 · metallic · uncommonTin specimen: silver and gray metalTinMohs 1.5 · metallic · commonTitanium specimen: silver and gray metalTitaniumMohs 6 · metallic · commonTungsten specimen: dark gray and steel gray metalTungstenMohs 7.5 · metallic · commonWhite Gold specimen: white silver and pale gold metalWhite GoldMohs 3 · metallic · commonZinc specimen: bluish silver and gray metalZincMohs 2.5 · metallic · commonAnthracite specimen: black and steel gray metamorphic rockAnthraciteMohs 2.5 · submetallic · commonBanded Iron Formation specimen: red and reddish brown sedimentary rockBanded Iron FormationMohs 5–7 · Vitreous (chert bands) to metallic/dull (iron oxide bands) · commonCassiterite specimen: brown and black mineralCassiteriteMohs 6–7 · Adamantine to submetallic · commonGraphite specimen: black and steel-gray mineralGraphiteMohs 1–2 · Metallic to dull/earthy · commonMagnetite specimen: black and iron-black mineralMagnetiteMohs 5.5–6.5 · Metallic to submetallic/dull · commonPyrolusite specimen: black and steel gray mineralPyrolusiteMohs 6.25 · metallic · commonShungite specimen: black and dark gray sedimentary rockShungiteMohs 3.5 · submetallic · uncommon

Glassy gray rocks (68)

Labradorite specimen: gray and blue flash mineralLabradoriteMohs 6 · vitreous · commonLarvikite specimen: dark gray and blue gray igneous rockLarvikiteMohs 6 · vitreous · commonAndesite specimen: gray and dark gray igneous rockAndesiteMohs 5–6 · Dull groundmass with vitreous phenocrysts · commonChalcedony specimen: blue-gray and white mineralChalcedonyMohs 6.5–7 · Waxy to vitreous · commonChiastolite specimen: gray and brown mineralChiastoliteMohs 6.5–7.5 · Vitreous · commonDacite specimen: gray and light gray igneous rockDaciteMohs 6–7 · Dull to vitreous · commonDiorite specimen: salt-and-pepper gray and dark gray igneous rockDioriteMohs 6–7 · Vitreous to dull (granular) · commonGabbro specimen: dark gray and black igneous rockGabbroMohs 5–6.5 · Dull to vitreous (in crystals) · commonGneiss specimen: gray and pink metamorphic rockGneissMohs 6–7 · Vitreous to glimmering (mica-rich bands) · commonGranodiorite specimen: light gray and gray igneous rockGranodioriteMohs 6–7 · Vitreous to dull (mixed mineral grains) · commonHowlite specimen: white with gray veining mineralHowliteMohs 3–3.5 · Subvitreous to dull · commonKimberlite specimen: blue-gray ('blue ground') and yellow ('yellow ground', weathered) igneous rockKimberliteMohs 5–6.5 · Dull to vitreous · commonMigmatite specimen: pink and black and light and dark layered metamorphic rockMigmatiteMohs 5–7 · Vitreous to dull (banded) · commonSchist specimen: silver-gray and golden (mica-rich) metamorphic rockSchistMohs 2.5–7 · Vitreous to silky/glittery (mica-rich) · commonShale specimen: gray and black sedimentary rockShaleMohs 2–3 · Dull to earthy (slightly sub-vitreous if micaceous) · commonSyenite specimen: gray and pink igneous rockSyeniteMohs 5.5–6.5 · Vitreous (feldspar crystals) · commonTuff specimen: light gray and tan igneous rockTuffMohs 2–5 · Dull to earthy; glassy shards may show vitreous luster · commonMoonstone specimen: white and gray gemstoneMoonstoneMohs 6 · vitreous · uncommonSelenite specimen: colorless and white mineralSeleniteMohs 2 · vitreous · commonMarble specimen: white and gray metamorphic rockMarbleMohs 3.5 · vitreous · commonGranite specimen: pink and gray igneous rockGraniteMohs 6.5 · vitreous · commonSmoky Quartz specimen: brown and gray crystalSmoky QuartzMohs 7 · vitreous · commonSodalite specimen: blue and blue with white veins mineralSodaliteMohs 5.5 · vitreous · commonIolite specimen: violet-blue and blue gemstoneIoliteMohs 7 · vitreous · uncommonRock Salt specimen: clear and white sedimentary rockRock SaltMohs 2.5 · vitreous · commonActinolite specimen: green and dark green mineralActinoliteMohs 5–6 · Vitreous to silky · commonAlabaster specimen: white and cream mineralAlabasterMohs 1.5–2 · Vitreous (crystalline); waxy to dull (massive) · commonAlbite specimen: white and colorless mineralAlbiteMohs 6–6.5 · Vitreous, pearly on cleavage · commonAnalcime specimen: colorless and white mineralAnalcimeMohs 5–5.5 · Vitreous · commonAndalusite specimen: reddish brown and olive green mineralAndalusiteMohs 6.5–7.5 · Vitreous · commonAnhydrite specimen: colorless and white mineralAnhydriteMohs 3–3.5 · Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces · commonAragonite specimen: colorless and white mineralAragoniteMohs 3.5–4 · Vitreous to resinous · commonAxinite specimen: clove-brown and violet-brown mineralAxiniteMohs 6.5–7 · Vitreous · commonBorax specimen: white and colorless mineralBoraxMohs 2–2.5 · Vitreous to resinous, earthy when dehydrated · commonBrucite specimen: white and pale green mineralBruciteMohs 2.5 · vitreous · uncommonCelestine specimen: colorless and pale blue mineralCelestineMohs 3–3.5 · Vitreous, pearly on cleavage · commonCerussite specimen: colorless and white mineralCerussiteMohs 3–3.5 · Adamantine to vitreous/resinous · commonCinnabar specimen: red and brownish red mineralCinnabarMohs 2–2.5 · Adamantine to dull/earthy · commonColemanite specimen: colorless and white mineralColemaniteMohs 4–4.5 · Vitreous, adamantine on cleavage faces · commonConglomerate specimen: variegated and gray sedimentary rockConglomerateMohs 3–7 · Variable; dull matrix to vitreous clasts · commonCordierite specimen: blue and violet-blue mineralCordieriteMohs 7–7.5 · Vitreous · commonCorundum specimen: red (ruby) and blue (sapphire) mineralCorundumMohs 9 · Adamantine to vitreous · commonDiaspore specimen: colorless and white mineralDiasporeMohs 6.5–7 · Vitreous to pearly on cleavage · commonDiopside specimen: light to dark green and white mineralDiopsideMohs 5.5–6.5 · Vitreous · commonDolomite specimen: white and gray sedimentary rockDolomiteMohs 3.5–4 · Vitreous to dull · commonFeldspar specimen: white and pink mineralFeldsparMohs 6–6.5 · Vitreous to pearly · commonFlint specimen: black and dark gray sedimentary rockFlintMohs 6.5–7 · Waxy to dull, glassy on fresh fracture · commonGibbsite specimen: white and gray mineralGibbsiteMohs 2.5–3.5 · Vitreous, pearly on cleavage, dull when earthy · commonGypsum specimen: colorless and white mineralGypsumMohs 2 · Vitreous, pearly, or silky (fibrous), earthy when massive · commonHalite specimen: colorless and white mineralHaliteMohs 2–2.5 · Vitreous · commonLeucite specimen: white and gray mineralLeuciteMohs 5.75 · vitreous · uncommonMagnesite specimen: white and gray mineralMagnesiteMohs 4 · vitreous · commonMicrocline specimen: white and cream mineralMicroclineMohs 6 · vitreous · commonMuscovite specimen: colorless and silvery white mineralMuscoviteMohs 2–4 · Vitreous to pearly/silky · commonNatrolite specimen: colorless and white mineralNatroliteMohs 5.5 · vitreous · uncommonNepheline specimen: colorless and white mineralNephelineMohs 6 · vitreous · uncommonPegmatite specimen: pink and white igneous rockPegmatiteMohs 6–7 · Vitreous (large crystal faces) · commonPorphyry specimen: purple and red igneous rockPorphyryMohs 5–7 · Dull to vitreous · commonPrehnite specimen: green and yellow-green mineralPrehniteMohs 6.25 · vitreous · uncommonPumice specimen: white and light gray igneous rockPumiceMohs 5–6 · Dull to glassy · commonQuartz specimen: colorless and white crystalQuartzMohs 7 · Vitreous, greasy on fracture surfaces · commonQuartzite specimen: white and gray metamorphic rockQuartziteMohs 7 · Vitreous to sugary/granular · commonRhyolite specimen: pink and gray igneous rockRhyoliteMohs 5.5–7 · Dull to vitreous (glassy groundmass) · commonScapolite specimen: white and pink mineralScapoliteMohs 6 · vitreous · uncommonSiderite specimen: yellowish brown and brown mineralSideriteMohs 4 · vitreous · commonSillimanite specimen: white and gray mineralSillimaniteMohs 7 · vitreous · uncommonTremolite specimen: white and gray mineralTremoliteMohs 5.5 · vitreous · commonZoisite specimen: green and pink mineralZoisiteMohs 6.5 · vitreous · uncommon

Waxy, silky or pearly gray rocks (12)

Mylonite specimen: gray and black metamorphic rockMyloniteMohs 5.5 · silky · uncommonChert specimen: gray and white sedimentary rockChertMohs 6.5–7 · Waxy to dull · commonPhyllite specimen: silvery gray and greenish gray metamorphic rockPhylliteMohs 2.5–4 · Silky to satiny (sericite/chlorite sheen) · commonSoapstone specimen: gray and green metamorphic rockSoapstoneMohs 1–2.5 · Greasy to pearly/waxy · commonAgate specimen: blue and brown mineralAgateMohs 7 · waxy · commonBlue Lace Agate specimen: pale blue and white mineralBlue Lace AgateMohs 7 · waxy · uncommonDendritic Agate specimen: white and gray mineralDendritic AgateMohs 7 · waxy · commonGreenschist specimen: green and gray green metamorphic rockGreenschistMohs 4.5 · silky · commonAnorthosite specimen: white and gray igneous rockAnorthositeMohs 6 · pearly · commonBlueschist specimen: blue and blue gray metamorphic rockBlueschistMohs 5.5 · silky · uncommonPyrophyllite specimen: white and gray mineralPyrophylliteMohs 1.5 · pearly · commonTalc specimen: white and pale green mineralTalcMohs 1 · Pearly to greasy/waxy · common

Dull or earthy gray rocks (33)

Slate specimen: gray and black metamorphic rockSlateMohs 3.5 · dull · commonSiltstone specimen: gray and tan sedimentary rockSiltstoneMohs 3.5 · dull · commonBasaltic Andesite specimen: dark gray and black igneous rockBasaltic AndesiteMohs 6 · dull · commonGraywacke specimen: dark gray and greenish gray sedimentary rockGraywackeMohs 6 · dull · commonHornfels specimen: gray and black metamorphic rockHornfelsMohs 6 · dull · commonMarl specimen: gray and cream sedimentary rockMarlMohs 2.5 · dull · commonTrachyte specimen: light gray and tan igneous rockTrachyteMohs 6 · dull · commonMetaconglomerate specimen: gray and white metamorphic rockMetaconglomerateMohs 6.5 · dull · uncommonMonzonite specimen: gray and pink igneous rockMonzoniteMohs 6 · dull · commonPhonolite specimen: gray and greenish gray igneous rockPhonoliteMohs 6 · dull · uncommonTephrite specimen: dark gray and black igneous rockTephriteMohs 6 · dull · uncommonClaystone specimen: gray and red sedimentary rockClaystoneMohs 2–3 · Dull, earthy · commonMudstone specimen: gray and brown sedimentary rockMudstoneMohs 2–3 · Dull, earthy · commonBasalt specimen: black and dark gray igneous rockBasaltMohs 6 · dull · commonSandstone specimen: tan and brown sedimentary rockSandstoneMohs 6 · dull · commonLimestone specimen: white and gray sedimentary rockLimestoneMohs 3 · dull · commonDolostone specimen: tan and gray sedimentary rockDolostoneMohs 3.5 · dull · commonIronstone specimen: brown and red brown sedimentary rockIronstoneMohs 4 · dull · commonAmphibolite specimen: black and dark green metamorphic rockAmphiboliteMohs 5.5 · dull · commonDiatomite specimen: white and cream sedimentary rockDiatomiteMohs 1.5 · dull · commonEvaporite specimen: white and clear sedimentary rockEvaporiteMohs 2.5 · dull · commonOolite specimen: white and cream sedimentary rockOoliteMohs 3 · dull · commonCaliche specimen: white and cream sedimentary rockCalicheMohs 3 · dull · commonArkose specimen: pink and red sedimentary rockArkoseMohs 6 · dull · commonIgnimbrite specimen: tan and pink igneous rockIgnimbriteMohs 6 · dull · commonSkarn specimen: green and brown metamorphic rockSkarnMohs 5.5 · dull · uncommonTonalite specimen: white and gray igneous rockTonaliteMohs 6 · dull · commonAplite specimen: white and pink igneous rockApliteMohs 6 · dull · commonNorite specimen: black and dark gray igneous rockNoriteMohs 6 · dull · commonBauxite specimen: reddish brown and tan mineralBauxiteMohs 1–3 · Dull, earthy; slight luster on pisoliths · commonChalk specimen: white and pale gray sedimentary rockChalkMohs 1–2 · Dull, earthy · commonCoquina specimen: white and tan sedimentary rockCoquinaMohs 3–4 · Dull · commonKaolinite specimen: white and cream mineralKaoliniteMohs 2 · earthy · common

Frequently asked questions

What is a gray shiny rock most likely to be?

Shiny gray rocks are usually Labradorite, Hematite, Larvikite, and Aluminum. Check whether the shine is metallic or glassy, then test hardness against glass to narrow it further.

How do I identify a gray rock at home?

Rinse it, look at the luster and grain under good light, scratch it against glass and a steel knife to bracket its Mohs hardness, and rub it on unglazed porcelain to see the streak color. Compare the results with the gray candidates on this page, or scan it with the StoneSnap app for an instant match.

Are gray rocks valuable?

Most gray rocks are common and worth a few dollars as specimens, but gem-grade material such as Moonstone, Marble, and Iolite can be worth far more. Each page lists a typical value range.

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