[Rockhounds] Metamorphic, Igneous and Sedimentary

[Drew]

My niece asked me to put together some rocks for a school project.  She
needs samples of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary.  I am a rockhound,
with no Geology background at all... I just like digging these purty rocks!
I thought this would be an easy project, but now I am second guessing myself
since I usually collect only minerals.

For instance, I have some pegmatite from the Crabtree Emerald Mine near
Spruce Pine, NC... I thought that pegmatite was igneous, but after reading a
little on the internet, I am not sure if it is (maybe metamorphic)... same
with smaragdite with corundum from Chunky Gal Mountain near Franklin, NC.
Also I have some samples of unakite, is that metamorphic or igneous?

I think I have the sedimentary ones finalized.  Some pebble conglomerate
from my area (SW VA), chert, some other type of rock with braciopod fossils
in it.

The metamorphics that I have are mica schist with spessartine garnets, from
Carroll County VA and some slate with pyrite from a new roadcut down South
of Boone, NC.

Sorry to ask such an elementary question... it is really confusing me
though, and I figured this would be a great place to ask!

Thanks,
Drew


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