Igneous metamorphic rocks: Igneous metamorphic rocks are often quite strong. Their mineral grains are tightly welded together, and they have fewer of the natural planes of weakness found in sedimentary rocks. What few planes of weakness they do have are often parallel to each other, and so they tend to form massive, blocky outcrops. The Canadian Shield, a portion of North America that includes much of Canada, and the adjacent states from Minnesota eastward to New England, have lots of rocks like this. The Blocky Rock Kit represents this type of rock.
Desert Sandstone: These castings are patterned after the wind-polished, red sandstone cliffs that are common in the deserts of the southwestern US. Painted a lighter tan color, they can also be used to model the "badlands" areas that are common in dry areas throughout the western states. If you're modeling the Santa Fe in New Mexico, the Northern Pacific in Montana, or SP narrow gauge in the California deserts, these castings are for you!
Folds: The folding of some beds of rock is one of the most spectacular demonstrations we have of the power of geologic forces. Even people who don't ordinarily pay attention to rocks marvel at the sight of complex sworls of broken and bent layers exposed in mountainous areas. If you model the central Appalachians, New England, and many parts of the Rocky Mountains, check out what we have to offer.
Granite: Granite is a very common igneous rock that generally lacks a clearly defined internal structure. Fractures are often far apart and in random directions. As weathering disintegrates the rock along these joints, the remaining unweathered rock often forms rounded, blob shapes.
Shale: Our most popular product line, this group of castings can be used to portray a wide variety of bedded sedimentary rocks: Limestones, sandstones, and siltstones as well as shales. Why are these castings so popular? Well, because they fit so well in so many different places. Flat-lying, bedded sedimentary rocks cover vast areas of central North America. If you live anywhere between central New York and the Dakotas, from Georgia to New Mexico, this is likely to be what rock cuts look like near home.
Limestone Quarry: Four different pieces make up this group, which depict the blocky, fractured appearance that is common in limestone quarry walls throughout the world. Limestone quarries are everywhere. This is one of the most commonly quarried rock types in the United States, and many of these quarries have rail service. Nearly every state east of the Rockies has at least a few limestone quarries, and many of the western states do as well. Limestones tend to develop widely spaced, nearly vertical fractures, and it's common for these fractures to be readily visible in quarry walls. It's also common for limestone quarries to have sharp, angular corners, which you can now model easily.