From my Badlands field notes, sedimentary rocks teach geology better than igneous
Last summer, I joined a geology camp in the Badlands. The instructors focused hard on igneous rocks, like basalt, saying they reveal Earth's inner heat. But I got stuck on a sandstone cliff, tracing layers that told stories of ancient rivers and dry spells. Some folks argue igneous rocks are pure and show how planets form. I believe sedimentary rocks, with their easy-to-see layers and fossils, make geology real for beginners. Most in my camp called me wrong, insisting igneous stuff is the foundation. Yet, watching new students light up over a fossil find beats staring at a plain lava rock any day. Where do you stand on this rock debate?