Patience in geology: naming my creek find took ages

I discovered this interesting rock while walking by a local creek. It had clear bands of different colors that caught my eye. For over a year, I tried to figure out what it could be on my own. I even joined a rock collecting group to get advice. They suggested sending it to a lab for proper testing. That process alone took several months. When the results came back, learning it was gneiss made all the waiting worth it.

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patb127mo ago

Seems like way too much effort for just a rock name. Couldn't you have just asked online and saved a year?

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troyp377mo ago

Patb12 would probably spend a year trying to find the quickest way to tie his shoes.

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fionaschmidt7mo ago

But what's the point if you don't learn anything? You could google a bird call and get an answer in two seconds, but you'll forget it tomorrow. Actually going outside, listening, and figuring it out yourself means you'll know that call for life. It's the same with the rock. Finding it, testing it, and finally naming it yourself builds real knowledge, not just a fact you looked up. That year of effort is what makes it stick.

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