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My stubborn calcite vein took 3 whole days to map right because I kept mixing it up with the quartz next to it.
I had to re-check my field notes from the Arizona site and use a fresh bottle of acid to finally be sure, so has anyone else had a simple ID turn into a huge time sink?
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alice_mitchell5mo ago
Yeah, that acid test is the only thing that really works for me with calcite versus quartz in the field. I started carrying a small dropper bottle of vinegar as a quick check before I even pull out the good acid. Saves a ton of time and you don't waste your main supply. Marking the vein with a different color tape in my notes helped too, just a visual cue so I stop second-guessing myself later.
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markl753mo ago
Three bottles of vinegar in my garage right now, each one for a different thing because I got tired of guessing which was which. Funny how that same principle shows up everywhere once you start noticing it. I was helping my neighbor fix a leaky faucet last week and he just kept staring at the pipes like they'd tell him something. Handed him a piece of chalk and said mark the hot side before you touch anything. Worked like magic because suddenly there was no guesswork. It's this whole pattern in life where people waste energy on deciding instead of just making a system that decides for them. Your tape trick is that same idea just applied to rocks instead of plumbing.
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loganthompson5mo ago
Oh, that's a really smart system. I've ruined so many good acid bottles by using them on plain quartz just because I got unsure. The vinegar trick is clever, I'll have to try that. The tape idea is great too, anything to stop that mental loop of doubt when you're back at home.
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