Volunteering at a local quarry taught me that cleavage identification is overrated for beginners

I often see new rockhounds stressed about perfectly identifying cleavage in minerals, but I think it's an unnecessary hurdle. During my time documenting specimens at a small quarry, I learned to prioritize luster and hardness for quick field assessments. For example, distinguishing calcite from quartz became easier by focusing on how light reflects rather than cleavage angles. This approach sped up my cataloging and reduced errors in initial classifications. While cleavage has its place in advanced study, emphasizing it too early can discourage newcomers. We should simplify introductory geology to build confidence first.