Yeah, they're definitally awesome. For my thesis, I have to write about the geological history of southern Patagonia (Chile) and although I'm usually not very fond of reading scientifical articles, I like reading these because they're about the building of the Andes, Glacier advancement and retreat, paleoclimatic changes and the like. It's only a bummer that the lake I'm working on is barely mentioned in litterature (unlike e.g. the Whittard Canyon (Gulf of Biscaye) that a friend of mine is working on). But I'd rather do lakes in Chile than a canyon in the Atlantic. |D Although the marine environment is interesting, I prefer the mountains.
Congratulations! That's quite an achievement! I think I had 93% on my geography (wrong term, but I have no idea how I should translate it otherwise) course exam in the last year or middle school, which was about Geology. I had the highest score of my class and my teacher was proud of me (she was also very happy that I was going to study Geology. Four years later, she still mentioned my name in my sister's class when she was talking about geology. |D) Studying geology is indeed a case of paying attention, be it in class, or on the field. Lots of things I recognise on exams thanks to things that happened during field trips or labs. Looking is important, bet it at the details or the grand picture.
I'm not that adept at recognising minerals (specially the not so common ones) and rocks, but there are some I'll never forget. Like Cargneuil, which was used by the nappes to move and create the alps. And some others there and there : >
Okay, "goodnight" or "have a nice day!"?