# Build a 10-Specimen Collection

Part of the Geology Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/geology/guide/index.md)

*4. Mineral Resources*

> **4c3a.** Collect 10 different rocks or minerals. Record in a notebook where you obtained (found, bought, traded) each one. Label each specimen, identify its class and origin, determine its chemical composition, and list its physical properties. Share your collection with your counselor.

A good geology collection is not about owning the rarest or prettiest pieces. It is about building a set of specimens that teaches you something. Each specimen should have a label, a source, and a reason you chose it.

## What to Record

For each specimen, include:

- **Name**
- **Whether it is a rock or a mineral**
- **Rock class or mineral identity**
- **Origin**
- **Chemical composition** if you can determine it
- **Physical properties**
- **Where you obtained it**

## What Makes a Strong Collection

Try to include variety. A collection with ten different-looking pieces is good, but a collection that also represents several geologic processes is even better.

**Collection Tips** — Build a set that helps you learn

- [ ] **Include more than one rock class if possible.**
- [ ] **Write labels right away.** Unlabeled specimens become mysteries fast.
- [ ] **Use clear storage.** Egg cartons, specimen boxes, or labeled bags can work.
- [ ] **Keep location notes.** "Found at creek gravel bar" is much better than "found outside."

> **Safety First!**
>
> Collect only where you have permission and where it is safe. Never hammer unstable outcrops, enter active quarries without approval, or remove specimens from protected lands.

## Official Resources

There is no official resource link for this page. Your notebook, labels, and specimen observations are the most important resources here.

Even if you choose this collection path, the next page is still worth understanding because it strengthens your specimen-identification skills.

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- Previous: [Collect or Identify Specimens](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/geology/guide/req4c3/index.md)
- Next: [Identify 15 Specimens](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/geology/guide/req4c3b/index.md)