Is this sturdy enough to use on granite, quartz, and basalt?

Yes, absolutely! I used this hammer at geology field camp in 1983 on Colorado granite. Don't forget your safety glssses.

Can it work on halving small round rocks containing snail fossils without harming the fossil? I live in Canyon Lake TX and the museum here halved the

That depends on the material and how much force you use. If you are talking about a limestone the fossil itself may not be harder than the matrix, especially if the shell is old and was dissolved and replaced by lime mud, which can make a soft fossil in a soft rock. Some limestones are hard and breaking them will break your fossil. Don't count on it working unless the rock is much softer than the shell you want to preserve. You may try dissolving the rock like museums do, but again, this only works if the fossil is a different material than the matrix, such as silica or dolomite or pyrite. The hammer should break a soft shale or poorly indurated sandstone. Just be careful and don't swing too hard.

ASIN	B0002OVCMO
Best Sellers Rank	#17,831 in Tools & Home Improvement ( See Top 100 in Tools & Home Improvement ) #6 in Masonry Hammers
Brand	Estwing
Brand Name	Estwing
Color	Blue
Colour	Blue
Customer Reviews	4.8 out of 5 stars 3,636 Reviews
EU Spare Part Availability Duration	1 Years
Global Trade Identification Number	00034139626213
Grip Type	Knurled
Handle Material	Nylon-Vinyl
Handle material	Nylon-Vinyl
Head Material	Alloy Steel
Head Style	Pointed
Head material	Alloy Steel
Included Components	Pick Prospecting Hammer
Item Dimensions L x W x Thickness	33L x 17.8W x 3.2Th centimeters
Item Type Name	Pick Prospecting Hammer
Item Weight	1.37 Pounds
Item weight	1.37 Pounds
Manufacturer	Estwing
Manufacturer Warranty Description	Manufacturer Warranty
Product dimensions	33L x 17.8W x 3.2Th centimeters
Style Name	Hammer
UPC	054278884671 343538290384 034139626213 300716708918 341396262130
Unit Count	1 Count

Estwing Rock Pick Geological Hammer with Pointed Tip & Shock Reduction Grip, Blue, 22 oz, E3-22P

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