My professor said my rock ID was sloppy at the Tucson Gem Show

I was showing off a piece of banded iron formation I found, and she pointed out I hadn't even checked its hardness or streak. I felt pretty dumb, honestly. Now I always carry my little steel nail and streak plate in my field bag, no exceptions. What's one basic step you used to skip but now never forget?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona_young27d ago

Remember to check for cleavage, I once spent a whole afternoon on a calcite piece thinking it was quartz.

the_christopher27d ago

Oh, that's a familiar feeling. I used to ignore specific gravity testing for years, thinking a good visual check was enough. After misidentifying a hefty piece of hematite as something more exotic, I learned my lesson the hard way. Now that little spring scale and water cup are permanent fixtures in my kit. It's such a simple step that saves so much guesswork.

oliviagrant19d ago

Ugh, I totally get that. I was the same with checking luster (always just called it "shiny" like a kid, ha). @the_christopher is right about those simple tests, they save you every time. I mixed up galena and graphite once because I just went by color, never again.