Yes. I have a geology degree. How else am I supposed to distinguish apatite from halite. I’ve licked many rocks. Mineralogy, petrology, and sedemenary Rocks and fossils all had finals that involved having 50 rocks in front of you to identify
Comment on Do you have what it takes to become a geologist?
DudeDudenson@lemmings.world 1 year ago
Are you telling me they put them in front of actual rocks and let them lick them in finals?
Glimpythegoblin@lemm.ee 1 year ago
DudeDudenson@lemmings.world 1 year ago
Oh wow I’ve never expected that I’m used to university being full academia with no hands on on anything
flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyz 1 year ago
Not hands. Tongue
Glimpythegoblin@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Yeah geology is fun. Lots of hands on stuff, class camping trips out to the field usually once a semester at least. Then there’s field camp which is a couple months in the wilderness mapping outcrops and studying local geology. I think it’s one of the most fun majors you can do, but I’m biased.
IMongoose@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I did Zoology, half my classes had us either identifying dead animals (whole / parts) or dissecting them. One of my tests was identifying the sex, age, and species of waterfowl just by their severed wings. I also did a summer plant class where all we did was walk trails and identify plants.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com 1 year ago
Best part of college is how hands on your degree courses are, since they’re trying to prepare you for work in the real world
Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Your fucking around about the licking part right?
FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Geologists identify rocks in the field that way sometimes.
Glimpythegoblin@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Not at all.
Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Interesting! Makes geology sound more fun for some reason.
mitchty@lemmy.sdf.org 1 year ago
Im sure it’s required. I got a geology buddy and he said this is pretty normal for identification of rocks. So I bet its a required skill to tell spicy rocks from rocky rocks.
Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee 1 year ago
"Well yes it looks like a rock, but it tastes like a metal
Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Geology degree here - you identify some rocks by licking them. Licking most rocks will give you no information. But in a final, honestly, nobody would bat an eye if you licked all of them, just in case.
djsoren19@yiffit.net 1 year ago
I have to know, how was sanitation handled? did you each student have an individual sample, or were you all licking a communal rock?
GiveMemes@jlai.lu 1 year ago
They’re licking rocks and you’re worried about sanitation?!?
Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Individual samples and UV lights, though often there was a rock where multiple people would lick it. People probably don’t get sick from that often.
Glimpythegoblin@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Us geology students are bonded by blood. Once we all passed around a fragment of dinosaur bone and all stuck it to our tongue. Pre COVID mind you.
lowleveldata@programming.dev 1 year ago
Fact
morbidcactus@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Was a thing when I took geo in first year, rock test (and the professor) was kinda a legend within engineering.
mitchty@lemmy.sdf.org 1 year ago
Heh that sounds like my buddies professor. All he said was your tongues always there and it’s a good instrument so why not use it. I just make fun of him licking rocks.