If you think you have found a meteorite, grind off a corner of the sample and look for traces of metal. A local university or museum may be able to help you with further identification. Finding a fossil can be an exciting event for a rock hound. Fossils are the remains of ancient animals and plants. Animal bones, shells, and leaf impressions are examples of the many types of fossils.
Sedimentary rock is the only type of rock to contain fossils.
Shaly limestone beds are a good place to look for fossils. Some rock collectors do much more with their collections than simply set specimens on a shelf. For the very ambitious, a collection of large stones may be set into a fireplace or used as decorative facing for a wall inside a home. Some collectors use different types of stones for rock gardens, often placing them near a type of plant that is native to where the stones were found. Rocks and minerals can be used for making items such as lamps, bookends, and ashtrays.