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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?
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fiona_young7mo ago
Remember to check for cleavage, I once spent a whole afternoon on a calcite piece thinking it was quartz.
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the_christopher7mo 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.
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oliviagrant6mo 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.
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