Attractive red rhyolite is cut and polished into cabochons, spheres, and carvings. Some named varieties (like Leopard Skin Rhyolite or Rainforest Rhyolite) are popular with collectors.

Geological Interest: Important as a felsic volcanic rock, helping volcanologists study explosive eruptions (since rhyolite magmas are often highly viscous and explosive).

Think of rhyolite as a shaken up soda can that's been opened in a volcano - volcanic foam. It's chemical make is primary silica but impurities give it unique colors and inclusions. This slab shows flow banding with it's alternating color.