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 2 months ago
Are you telling me they put them in front of actual rocks and let them lick them in finals?
Glimpythegoblin@lemm.ee 2 months ago
DudeDudenson@lemmings.world 2 months 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 2 months ago
Not hands. Tongue
Glimpythegoblin@lemm.ee 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months ago
Your fucking around about the licking part right?
FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Geologists identify rocks in the field that way sometimes.
Glimpythegoblin@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Not at all.
Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Interesting! Makes geology sound more fun for some reason.
mitchty@lemmy.sdf.org 2 months 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 2 months ago
"Well yes it looks like a rock, but it tastes like a metal
Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months ago
They’re licking rocks and you’re worried about sanitation?!?
Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months ago
Fact
morbidcactus@lemmy.ca 2 months 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 2 months 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.