Guide Navigation
Getting Started Introduction & Overview Thinking Like a Geologist Req 1 — What Geology Explains Earth Materials in Daily Life Req 2 — Resources From the Ground Reading the Rocks Req 3 — Geologic Maps Choose Your Geology Path Req 4 — Pick Your Option Surface & Sedimentary Processes Req 4a — Streams Shape the Land Req 4a1 — Sediment Settling Req 4a2 — Stream Gradients Req 4a3 — Reading Stream Features Req 4a4 — Tiny Sediment, Big Clues Req 4a5 — Clues in a Dry Streambed Energy Resources Req 4b — Energy Underground Req 4b1 — Power Sources in the United States Req 4b2 — Source, Trap, and Reservoir Req 4b3 — Tools for Finding Oil and Gas Req 4b4 — Subsurface Structure Maps Req 4b5 — Show or Visit a Drilling Operation Req 4b5a — Present How Fuels Are Found Req 4b5b — Visit a Drilling Rig Mineral Resources Req 4c — Rocks, Minerals, and Society Req 4c1 — The Three Rock Classes Req 4c2 — What Makes a Mineral Req 4c3 — Collect or Identify Specimens Req 4c3a — Build a 10-Specimen Collection Req 4c3b — Identify 15 Specimens Req 4c4 — Road-Building Materials Req 4c5 — Visit or Investigate Resource Use Req 4c5a — Visit a Mine, Quarry, or Pit Req 4c5b — Two Rocks and Two Minerals Req 4c5c — Geology in Construction Earth History Req 4d — Deep Time and Ancient Worlds Req 4d1 — Geologic Time in Your Region Req 4d2 — Plate Tectonics Req 4d3 — Burial, Fossils, and Extinction Req 4d4 — Fossils as Ancient Clues Req 4d5 — Collect or Identify Fossils Req 4d6 — Visit, Observe, or Present Fossils Req 4d6a — Museum Fossil Visit Req 4d6b — Fossils in Building Stone Req 4d6c — Fossil Outcrop Visit Req 4d6d — State Fossil Presentation Outdoor Ethics in Geology Req 5 — Leave No Trace and the Outdoor Code Where Geology Can Take You Req 6 — Career or Hobby Path Req 6a — Geology Careers Req 6b — Geology as a Hobby or Lifestyle Beyond the Badge Extended Learning Reference 📋 View Requirements 4d6. Do ONE of the following:
You must choose exactly one final path:
Req 4d6a visits a museum or university fossil collection.Req 4d6b studies fossils preserved in building stone.Req 4d6c visits a fossil-bearing outcrop.Req 4d6d creates a presentation on a state fossil.Your Options How to Choose Choosing Your Final Fossil Path Match the option to your access and interests
Best access to experts and displays: 4d6aBest local everyday geology option: 4d6bBest outdoor field experience: 4d6cBest research and presentation option: 4d6dWhat you gain: museum path builds museum-literacy, building-stone path builds observation, outcrop path builds field skills, and state-fossil path builds research and communication.Tip If you cannot visit a natural fossil outcrop, the building-stone option is a clever backup. Many polished limestones in schools, courthouses, and public buildings still preserve shells and other fossils.
You have compared the final Earth History paths and can choose the one that fits your situation.
Start with the museum visit path and learn what to observe in a curated fossil collection.