Mineralogy has been an interesting topic of study, and I've genuinely enjoyed taking the course this semester. The class covered a broad range of subjects, and therefore it required a broad range of skills to succeed in it. Although it may seem simple, this course has been a great reminder on the importance of good note taking skills. A well organized notebook with clear and concise notes was essential to my success. Whether I was using the notes as a reference while working on assignments, or going back to study the material before an exam, good notes made my job a lot easier. This is exactly the type of skill that will benefit me throughout my entire collegiate career.
Specifically in regards to the Mineral Challenge, I found several skills to be important. First, I learned communication is a vital skill for any group project. At first my group tried dividing the work to be done individually, with minimal communication between teammates. However we quickly realised that the best way to complete the challenge was simply by talking to one another. When we started working together to identify the minerals, suddenly the whole process became a lot easier for everyone involved. Second, I found that the mineral challenge really helped develop my practical skills in identifying minerals. Previously in both Physical and Historical Geology most samples we were given to study could be identified on appearance alone (with the notable exception of a few rocks and minerals). The 64 minerals given to us in the challenge proved to be much harder to identify solely off appearance. We heavily relied on testing the mineral's physical properties to narrow down our identifications. It's quite likely that I'll have to call upon these newly refined skills in future geology courses, and even in my future career.