What to expect in this course

Have you ever been so excited by a rock you found that you take a pic and send it into the internet with the tagline, "Can anyone tell me what this is?".

As a geologist I am always reserved to answer those questions. Out of context, photos of rocks and minerals aren't always easy to identify. Humans are built for pattern recognition, but that only goes so far. May rocks and minerals look identical. Other tests and magnification are often required. It's why geology requires a hands on field camp.

Here I take you though why rock identification can be problematic.