Segment Three: What’s a Rockhound
This video segment explores mineralogy, one of the most popular hobbies in the United States. Jim Irvine, a “rock hound,” introduces students to this hobby in an informal conversation. After sharing how he acquired this hobby, Irvine outlines his mineral identification procedure. Irvine also demonstrates his method for cleaning specimens and simple tests used for identifying minerals by luster, specific gravity, hardness, cleavage and fracture. Students can follow the logical steps of mineral identification as they are performed in close—up shots. This video segment concludes with a brief demonstration of rock cutting and polishing.