This semester we were tasked with identifying 64 unknown minerals. We were provided with a list of all the minerals, but no clues as to their individual identities. Every student from each class was divided into 4 groups. Teams A, B, C, and D. Every 2-3 weeks, each team was given a box with 16 new minerals. We were allowed to bring the minerals home and work on them with our groups over Zoom. With everyone working on a shared Google doc, we submitted our answers for each box. Our answers included information such as mineral series, formula, key cations, and the environment of formation.
For the mineral challenge I was on Team D, otherwise known as Team "What the Fukalite?". We initially tried to individualize the group work as much as possible. On our first box, we assigned each team member 3-4 minerals to try to identify. We had mixed results with this approach and quickly opted to try something new. For the remaining minerals we identified them together as a group over Zoom. After going through the list together and identifying each mineral as a team, we again assigned each team member a few minerals to individually finish filling in the information. This individual work proved to be much simpler after completing the identification as a team.
Resourcefulness was a vital skill to complete this challenge. In our efforts to find accurate information on the minerals, we were introduced to a variety of online resources such as mindat.org, geology.com, and many more. One of the best resources was simply google images, which we used frequently to compare samples during the identification process. Another valuable skill was communication. When we initially started this project, our group communication wasn't great. We tried to turn a group project into individual work, and we had poor results. Once we started doing the initial identification together as a team, the whole assignment became a lot easier. Being able to compare both our ideas and our samples in real time made identification a simpler process for everyone.
One thing this assignment taught me about minerals is that looks can be deceiving. Sometimes you'll have two totally different minerals which look almost identical. Other times you'll have minerals that are all technically the same thing, but look totally different. As a result we had to rely heavily on identifying minerals based on their properties such has hardness, streak color, and reaction to HCL.
This assignment has made me realize both the value of teamwork, and the importance of communication. While I generally abhor group assignments, I see now that the potential benefits of working together outweigh the potential negatives. I know that in the future, I'll be more open minded to group work, whether it's a school project or something in my future career.