Trichograptus immotus H. and T. (37442) Middle Ordovician. Dark grey rock. 'Mo63' on sticker on rock adjacent to graptolite specimen. Fossil collection was formerly held by the School of Mines Museum, Pall Mall, Bendigo.

A fairly well aged copy of the Victoria Gold Valuer's Ready Reckoner which details gold prices, chemistry, and fossils of extinct animals. Has detailed writing of its previous owner on the first few pages.book, bendigo, mining

Isograptus manubriatus T.S.H, Yapeenian Brown rock with two full specimens, also visible portions of other two. Sticker with 'Ya44' on rock. Fossil collection was formerly held by the School of Mines Museum, Pall Mall, Bendigo.

Isograptus caduceus var.divergens Harris (3132) Yapeenian. Brown rock. One very distinct specimen of graptolite on face. Sticker with 'Ya45' on rock. Fossil collection was formerly held by the School of Mines Museum, Pall Mall, Bendigo.

Isograptus manu briatus T.S.H, Yapeenian. Pinkish coloured rock, one whole and parts of other graptolite specimens visible. 'Ya44" on sticker Fossil collection was formerly held by the School of Mines Museum, Pall Mall, Bendigo.

Formed by sedimentary processes. 8312.1 - Rock split in half lengthways, revealing in both kidney-shaped halves a sedimentary concretion, itself split into un equal halves via cross-sectional fractures. The larger concretion fragment reveals a small carbonised plant fossil.

This book contains information on the environmental problems facing the world. The effects of climate change, over-population and fossil-fuel use are discussed and some alternatives to coal production and the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes and for defence are proposed. The book has been written for, and is dedicated to, the author’s grandchildren. This book is retained as it was written by Graham Keith, a local Warrnambool resident who has had considerable experience in the engineering field.This is a soft cover book of 158 pages. It has a blue cover with black printing on the front and a colour photograph of two children on the back. The book has 18 chapters of text and an index. The book contains some black and white photographs and a sketch. environmental issues, warrnambool

Isograptus caduceus var. divergens Harris (3132. Yapeenian. Pale sandstone colour rock. Three intact specimens and some incomplete parts of others visible. "Ya45" on sticker on rock. Fossil collection was formerly held by the School of Mines Museum, Pall Mall, Bendigo.

Actinolite is usually found in metamorphic rocks, such as contact aureoles surrounding cooled intrusive igneous rocks. It also occurs as a product of the metamorphism of magnesium-rich limestones. Pyrite is usually found with other sulfides or oxides in quartz veins, sedimentary rock, and metamorphic rock, as well coal beds, and as a replacement mineral in fossils. Actinolite is an amphibole silicate mineral. It is named after the Greek word "aktinos" meaning “ray” in allusion to the mineral's fibrous nature. Fibrous actinolite is a type of asbestos and was once mined along Jones Creek at Gundagai, New South Wales. Pyrite or "Fool's Gold" is the most common sulfide mineral. It is named after the Greek "pyr" meaning "fire" because it can be used to create sparks needed for a fire if struck against metal or a hard surface. Due to its gold colour, pyrite can be mistaken for gold and often forms alongside it, causing small amounts of gold to be present in rocks containing pyrite. Most importantly, pyrite is an ore of gold. Pyrite is sometimes used as a gemstone but is not great for jewellery as it easily tarnishes. In some fossils of ammonites – shelled cephalopods that died ~66 million years ago – pyrite also replaces the shell. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study. A small-medium-sized solid specimen with the minerals actinolite (dark green fibrous) and pyrite (brassy) with shades of brown, black/grey, and white. Actinolite is an amphibole mineral in the tremolite-actinolite series of calcium, magnesium, and iron silicates. Pyrite is an iron disulfide mineral.geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, geological, mineralogy, pyrite, actinolite, victoria, sewyln, alfred selwyn

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of fossilised ferns and fragment of Emu egg shell from Forrest Midden. At left: Fossilized ferns from Rhyll quarry. At right: Fragment of Emu egg shell presumably brought to Phillip Island by aborigines - cemented to Mussell shells at Forrest midden.local history, photography, fossils, black & white photograph, midden at forrest caves, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of fossilised bones of animals eaten by Aborigines on Phillip Island.local history, photography, fossils, black & white photograph, aborigines, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of fossilised bones of animals eaten by Aborigines found on Phillip Island.local history, photography, fossils, black & white photograph, aborigines, john jenner, bryant west

DVD & docs relating to Giant Fossil Sperm Discovery (Miocene era Ostracod) John Neil - Hon. Research Associate, La Trobe university, Bendigo; 14th May 2014. Supportive/descriptive printed documents and proceedings related to this discovery. ''World's Oldest Sperm'' etc. The contents of the DVD disc have not been recorded into this computer.giant fossil sperm, john neil

This specimen was found in Cape Patterson, Vic. Cape Paterson is a cape and seaside village located near the town of Wonthaggi, 132 kilometres southeast of Melbourne, in the Bass Coast Shire of Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. These dark, fossiliferous Mudstones were deposited in slow-moving water associated with sedimentary basins & continental shelves. They are rich in carbon which makes them almost black. This is typical of an anoxic, reducing environment such as deep water or stagnant conditions where carbon-rich material would remain unoxidised during subsequent deposition & diagenesis. it has an imprint of a leaf in the rock itself, displaying the fossil of the plant. This specimen is unique due to the leaf impression within the stone itself. Imprint fossils are formed from an organism moving in some way, leaving behind a trace or track. These tracks are preserved when the clay/silt dries slowly and is covered by other sediment. Plants can also leave imprint fossils when they are covered by sediment. The leaf tissue degrades, leaving an imprint of where the leaf once was. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.These dark, fossiliferous Mudstones were deposited in slow moving water associated with sedimentary basins & continental shelves. They are rich in carbon which makes them almost black. This is typical of an anoxic, reducing environment such as deep water or stagnant conditions where carbon rich material would remain unoxidised during subsequent deposition & diagenesis. FOSSILIFEROUS MUDSTONE / Locality: Cape Patterson, Victoria | Descriptive catalogue / Pg 27 No 95 / "Grey Clay, / Cape Paterson with leaf impressions' / 15/4/21 C. William /mudstone, cape patterson, leaf imprint, fossilised leaf, fossiliferous mudstone

This publication consists of many Decades which contain "figuers and descriptions of the fossil organic remains to be used for the determination of the geological ages of the different geological formations of the country." (p. 3). Frederick McCoy was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1817. He was a Professor of Natural Sciences, University of Melbourne 1854-1899. McCoy lectured in geology, zoology, chemistry, mineralogy, geography and botany. In 1858 He became the Director of the National Museum of Victoria and the President of the Royal Society of Victoria in 1864. In 1888, McCoy was awarded FRS for work in Palaeontology in Ireland, England and Australia. He died in his office while correcting examination papers in 1899A Paperback cover book. Decade IV. Title is written in black on front cover and on title page. At head of title: Geological Survey of Victoria. Illustrations, plates in b/w; 32 p. It includes figures and descriptions of Victorian Organic Remains and contents of Decades on the back cover of the book.australia palaeobotany, victoria palaeontology, geological survey of victoria, frederick mccoy, organic remains

This publication consists of many Decades which contain "figuers and descriptions of the fossil organic remains to be used for the determination of the geological ages of the different geological formations of the country." (p. 3). Frederick McCoy was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1817. He was a Professor of Natural Sciences, University of Melbourne 1854-1899. McCoy lectured in geology, zoology, chemistry, mineralogy, geography and botany. In 1858 He became the Director of the National Museum of Victoria and the President of the Royal Society of Victoria in 1864. In 1888, McCoy was awarded FRS for work in Palaeontology in Ireland, England and Australia. He died in his office while correcting examination papers in 1899.A Paperback cover book. Decade v. Title is written in black on front cover and on title page. At head of title: Geological Survey of Victoria. Illustrations, plates in b/w; 41 p. It includes figures and descriptions of Victorian Organic Remains and contents of Decades on back cover.Stamped Ballarat East Public Library"australia palaeobotany, victoria palaeontology, geological survey of victoria, frederick mccoy, organic remains, ballarat east library, ballarat east public library

This publication consists of many Decades which contain "figuers and descriptions of the fossil organic remains to be used for the determination of the geological ages of the different geological formations of the country." (p. 3). Frederick McCoy was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1817. He was a Professor of Natural Sciences, University of Melbourne 1854-1899. McCoy lectured in geology, zoology, chemistry, mineralogy, geography and botany. In 1858 He became the Director of the National Museum of Victoria and the President of the Royal Society of Victoria in 1864. In 1888, McCoy was awarded FRS for work in Palaeontology in Ireland, England and Australia. He died in his office while correcting examination papers in 1899.A Paperback cover book. Decade VI. Title is written in black on front cover and on title page. At head of title: Geological Survey of Victoria. Illustrations, plates in b/w; 42 p. It includes figures and descriptions of Victorian Organic Remains and contents of Decades at back of the book.australia palaeobotany, victoria palaeontology, geological survey of victoria, frederick mccoy, organic remains, john ferres

Green/black clothcovered book of 412 pages. Includes illustrations and topics such as Knights Templar, Red Cross Knights, Lesson in Architecture, botany, arithmetic, algebra, static forces, Cambridge University, chemistry, latin, Euclid, fossils, geology, Greek, Electricity, German, Organic Chemistry, shells, pearls, North America, nightshades, the Thirty Years War, commerce, reflection of light, book-keeping, mosses, South America, hydrostatics, camera obscura, London UniversityStamped 'Springs Public Libray'cambridge university, knights templar, red cross knights, organic chemistry, north america, thirty years war, south america, camera obscura, london university, springs public library

Dendrites are deposits of black minerals, typically manganese oxides that precipitated from water seeping through fractures in fine-grain rocks like a sandstone or limestone. Dendrites are much less regular than plant fossils and lacks vein structures. The manganese cryztallizes through the process called 'supercooling'. Some samples of dendrites occur in volcanic rocks in the Lilydale district, east of Melbourne. Sandstones are made of tiny sand grains that may have been deposited in the sea and later formed together. Most sandstones are made of quartz which are chemically-resistant minerals. This particular specimen was donated by Alfred Selwyn in 1868 as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria. It is connected to the original 1875 catalogue on Geological Specimen with number 189 'Quartz Crystals_Quartz Crystals (two are polished)'Dendrites on sandstones This specimen is an important contribution to the geological history of Victoria, as well as its links to the 1868 Geological Survey of Victoria. This specimen is part of larger collection of significant geological specimens in the Burke Museum that was collected from around the world between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collection as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria 1852-1974. The Geological Survey of Victoria was an organisation founded in response to the Victorian gold rush to explore the geological and mineral resources and to record a detailed map of the state. It was headed by British geologist, Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn (1824-1902), who was responsible for issuing over 60 geological maps during his 17 years as director. These maps were all hand-drawn and coloured and became the benchmark for accuracy for geological mapping. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study. A hand-sized slice of light brown sandstone with dendrites formed from crystallized manganese oxide.Existing label: Not sure what / 'Slica dondrites' / means. / Sample is sandstone and original label / identifies it as from / the Grampians near Stawell. / C. Willman / 15/4/21 Other label: [illegible] / stone [ illegible] / from Grampians Stawell / 1894 /geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, dendrites, sandstones, quartz, lilydale district, geological survey of victoria, grampians, victoria rocks, minerals, rocks, manganese oxides, alfred selwyn

Supplement to the Illustrated Melbourne Post pages 193-200. Topics written about are - Christmas, an expedition to the Auckland islands, the Lancashire Cotton Company, a Testimonial to Lady Don, a collision in the Bay, the discovery of fossil remains, prorogation of parliament, the wild white man ( on the death of James Morrill), Portland Bay, the Panama Mail Service and the Kynton Agricultural Exhibition.There are sketches of local sites - The Grampians in the Western District, the Yalla-y-Poora Station, Fiery Creek, the Lawrence Rocks, Portland and the Scone Mills, Perth, Tasmania. There are also sketches of Christmas and the new year. Dated 1866.The Illustrated Melbourne Postnewspaper, illustrated melbourne post, lydia chancellor, collection, newspaper, the illustrated melbourne post, portland bay, new zealand, christmas, yalla-y-poora station, the scone mills, tasmania, grampians, the panama mail service, auckland islands, james morrill, emily e. don.

This particular specimen is found in Wolgan Valley, New South Wales. It could be linked to the abandoned oil shale mining sites in Wolgan Valley such as Newnes. Newnes was an industrial complex operational in the early 20th century is now partly surrounded by Wollemi National Park. It produced motor spirit, kerosene, and gas oil. Newnes's Torbanite oil shale rock contained around 350 litres of oil shale per tonne. The Torbanite was mined by the Commonwealth Oil Corporation Ltd. Oil shale is a sedimentary rock and also a form of fossil fuel. It is often formed millions of years ago and usually contain fossilised remains of plants and/or animals. Oil shale is rich in kerogen that releases hydrocarbon when heated. These hydrocarbon can be used as an alternative petroleum or natural gas. The oil-shale rock was converted into oil by "destructive distillation"; the rock being heated until it broke down to form an oily vapour and an ash residue. Oil bearing shale is one of Australia's national assets. There are many oil companies established in Australia. It reflects Australia's rich natural resources as well as connection to the Australia's engineering and oil industry. The booming oil shale extraction businesses can be traced as far back as 1920s. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.Piece of dark gray oil bearing shale with shades of light brown and fossilised leavesExisting label: OIL BEARING SHALE with / FOSSILISED LEAVES / Locality: Wongan Valley, NSW / Donor: Miss M. Cambell geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, oil shale, shale, fossil fuels, alfred selwyn, wolgen valley, 1868 geological survey of victoria, rocks, sedimentary rocks, newnes, torbanite, commonwealth oil corporation ltd

The low rolling hills of the Kimbolton countryside consist of ancient, hard and fractured Ordovician rock up to 65 million years old, which was originally deposited deep under the sea. Rocks mainly are sandstone, mudstone, black shale and quartz conglomerates. Marine fossils can be found in the area. Around seven million years ago a basalt flow buried the original bedrock along the along the Campaspe River. Ongoing weathering, wind and water movement over the following years has produced younger clay, sand, silt and gravel deposits throughout the area. Patches of White Hills Gravel are also found in the area. Another unique geological feature of this area is the Permian Glacial Pavement rocks north and south of Eppalock and glacial sediments (such as “Dunn’s Rock” and “Kellams Rock”). During the ice age (up to 280 million years ago) large glaciers moving over the countryside, scoured out sediments, pulverized bedrock, polished and cut grooves into bedrock in the direction of ice movement. When the ice melted boulders etc where left behind in areas of entirely different rock types, such as a 100 Tonne granite block known as ‘The Stranger’ near Derrinal. Dunn's Rock (Glaciated Pavement) Eppalock - Photos of the rock and a field group collecting date with Lake Eppalock (Knowsley) in the backgroundhistory, bendigo, dunn's rock eppalock, kimbolton forest, lake eppalock, gately collection

These books were added to the library of the School of Mines Ballaarat in 1889. The author was Joseph Prestwich, who was a Professor of Geology at the University of Oxford.Two brown hard cloth covered books, Vol 1 & vol 2 with gold printing on the front cover and on the spine. .1) has a coloured fold out map of the World opposite the title page .20 has a coloured fold out map of Europe..1) A label is attached to the inside front cover with The School of Mines Ballaarat and the no. 955 and date purchased 14/3/89 (1889) as well as the institutions stamp in several places throughout the book. .2) As above but with no. 956 and on the inside fly is written in pencil 'Stamped in Error' with a Ballarat School of Mines Student Library stamp crossed out.geology, bookplate, library plate, ballarat school of mines library, joseph prestwich, geological map of the world, geological map of europe, hieropolis thermal springs, rockss, ice, volvanoes, earthquakes, metallurgy, shakespeare's cliff dover, wapley, gloucestershire, redruth mining district, fossils, reptilian footprints, chalk, london clay

WARM was a community textile art project that saw over 250 knitters come together to create a beautiful collage tapestry. Made entirely from wool, the artwork contains more than 1000 individual hand knitted sections. The project takes aim at global warming, it highlights both the causes and solutions for us to create a sustainable and safe climate for future generations. Lisa Kendal, the co-creator of the project, said “One of the problems in the world is that we have forgotten how to warm ourselves with wool. We have become too dependent on fossil fuels (for heating)”. This is the key idea surrounding the project. WARM began as two large scale images created by Lars Stenberg. The first image is a landscape scarred by coal mining. The second image is the same landscape only many decades later. Regeneration and regrowth have taken over the landscape and hidden the past coal mine completely. In its place is a beautiful landscape including trees, native flowers, a lake, lots of greenery and wind turbines. From March to the end of August in 2016, knitters worked hard to create the over one thousand pieces that came together to form the final tapestry. The pieces were all designed by Fibre Artist Georgie Nicolson of Tikki Knitting Designs, who converted the second image of the healed landscape into patterns for the 250 plus knitters to follow. These patterns included unusual designs such as gum leaves, trees, native flowers and even the wind turbines. During several days of installation, the knitted pieces were stitched together by Lars Stenberg over a picture of the first image of the operational coal mine. They worked to create the second image of the renewed landscape; like an enormous collage. The WARM project was donated to the National Wool Museum in 2021. It was a much-loved hanging within the Ballarat Hospital for many years before coming to the museum. More information about the project can be found on the following website. http://www.seam.org.au/warm The tapestry is made from 1000+ hand knitted sections stitched together to make an image. In the foreground of this image is a large gum tree that stretches from the bottom left to the top right corner. The trunk of this tree follows the left edge of the tapestry, with foliage from the gum tree spanning its top border. The bottom third of the tapestry is predominantly green grass with yellow, pink and red flowers providing sporadic colour. The middle third encompasses a lake, with orange colours surrounding the banks of the water as opposed to the green grasses of the bottom third. To the right of the lake are wind turbines. The top third of the tapestry is blue sky with white clouds. It also contains the previously described gum tree leaves. Each piece of the tapestry is 100% wool and was hand knitted and stitched together. The Tapestry is accompanied by an oil painting on canvas. It is a painting that matches the tapestry and served as a template for the final tapestry. Finally, the tapestry is accompanied by another pointing on wood board. This final panting is of a coal mine. This is the setting before regeneration and regrowth have reclaimed this site, which is the theme captured in the final tapestry. In the foreground of the coal mine painting is the same gum tree described in the tapestry; however, it is grey and sickle with only 4 leaves visible at the top border, compared to the numerous leaves in the tapestry. Also in the foreground is a broken barb wire fence adding to the unwelcoming nature of the site. The colour scheme of this image is of dark greys and browns. A coal fired power plant can be seen in the final third of the image with four chimneys emitting plumes of smoke into the sky. In front of this power plant is the spiral shape of a coal mine, burrowing deep into the earth’s crust. Inside of the coal mine 3 yellow trucks are seen mining and transporting coal to the top of the mine.warm, community textile tapestry, knitting, community artwork, global warming

In the early 1990s the KVHS applied for a grant to create the Mt Beauty Heritage Centre / Discovery Centre. This involved employing consultants and further research.This collection includes a lot of detail of the Kiewa Valley area.1. Bogong - The Alpine Discovery Centre 2. Heritage Centre - black folder 3. Heritage Centre - manila folder 4. High Country Heritage Centre - 1991 - green spiral folder 5. Six Heritage Centre - Matt Viney & Associates - white spiral folders 6. Landscape Consultants - Susan Campbell & son - red spiral folder 7. Plant List - Upper Kiewa Valley Water Supply Catchment 8. Geological Survey of Vic., Plates, Bulletin No. 44 - in battered paper 'bag' with front cover list of contents - 15 plates 9. Geological Survey - A3 photo copies of pages 106-117 10. Geological Survey of Vic. - Report of Progress No VII 1884 - bound book 11. Geological Survey of Vic. Bulletin 56 - includes nth east Vic. 1958 - bound book with green cloth spine 12. Department of Mines Report Vic. 1906 - booklet held with two staples 13. Royal Society of Vic book - The Geology of the Kiewa Area 1961 14. Miscellaneous papers - Geological Survey, Reports of Fossil Specimens and maps of local area 15. Gold - Appendix K and Appendix 111, Part C - photocopied pages from Vic Mining Registrars Report 1888 - manila foldermt beauty heritage centre, mt beauty discovery centre, geological surveys

Henry Watts (1828_1889) Died at Melbourne, 16th December, 1889. He was a good microscopist. His botanical studies were chiefly devoted to algae, both fresh-water and marine, and while living for many years at Warrnambool he was a contributor of algae to Harvey, who figured Wrangelia wattsii, Harv., and Crouania wattsii, Harv., in his “Phycologia Australica " He was the author of "On the Fresh-water Algae of Victoria " (Trans. Roy. Soc. Vict., 1861-4, 67) ; .also a paper "On Fossil Polyzoa" (ib.. 82); "A Trip to Mt. Macedon in Search of Fresh-water Algae" (Wing's S. S. Record, iii., 252); "On a Species of fresh-water Algae from Victoria" (Vict. Nat., i., 21); "Some Recent Additions to our Knowledge of Microscopic Natural History" (ib., iii., I33) (includes lists of fresh-water algae and Desmidieae ), First librarian (1881-2), also a vice-president of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. He is further commemorated by Acacia wattsiana. F. v. M. www.anbg.gov.au/biography/watts-henry.html . Henry Watts worked as a bootmaker in Timor and Liebig streets Warrnambool in the 1860’s but it was as an amateur scientist that Watts gained public notice.For an exhibiton in Melbourne in 1861 Henry Watts prepared a collection of over 100 different species of seaweed from the Warrnambool district. It is recorded in the Examiner in 1863 that he had been elected as an honorary member of the Bristol Microscopical Society of England He was a member of the Warrnambool Horticultural society and in 1865 he opted to become a flower distiller.At the 1866 MelbourneExhibition, Henry Watts exhibited 44 bottles of his perfumes. He had a keen interest in microscopes and microscopic organisms.He spent many hours combing the caves and examining the guano of local bats. This letter is written to Professor Quekett advising him that he has sent a collection of packets of samples of diatomaceae asking him to examine and name the same.. Professor Quekett was a famous microscopist of the Victorian era with the Quekett microscopist club one of the oldest in the world dedicated to the use of the microscope and its discoveries. Henry Watts was one of Warrnambool’s first botanists and marine scientists. He also established a flower distilling and perfume manufacturing business in Warrnambool. In 1861 he sent a collection of over 100 species of seaweed to the Melbourne Exhibition.Framed, handwritten letter, ink on blue paper. Transcript of letter is typed black on white paper. Five small numbered pieces of paper containing specimens of diatomaceae collected from marine and fresh water areas around Warrnambool.Names Henry Watts, Professor Quekett. Handwritten along the bottom of the frame, “The above was bought at a London Auction for $12-10-00 by Miss Eddey a Melbourne Book shop Proprietress and recently presented to the W.F.N. Club.: warrnambool, henry watts, watts henry, botanist,microscope, microscopic, quekett, john thomas quekett

In Australia, precious opal is found in Cretaceous age sandstones and mudstones. These sedimentary rocks were deeply weathered and this weathering released silica into the groundwater.Australia is the only part of the world where opalised animal and plant fossils have been found. Opal artefacts several thousands of years old have been discovered in East Africa. As early as 250 BC the Romans prized opals, thought to have come from mines in Eastern Europe, the ancient world's main source of opals. There are many aboriginal dreamtime stories that feature opal. Australian opals discovered during the late 1800's found little favour with European markets but their commercial value increased in the 1900's and in 1932 Australia took over as the major producer of opals in the world and remains the largest producer to this day. Opal is found around the world (Brazil, Mexico, Honduras and the western US) however Australia produces 95% of the world's precious opal and it is our official national gemstone. Opal was first mined commercially at Listowel Downs in Queensland in 1875 and later at White Cliffs in NSW. Today, Coober Pedy (SA) is the main producer of white opal, though in recent years this field has expanded and all types of opals are found. Other centres in SA include Andamooka and Mintabe. Lightning Ridge (NSW) is renowned for black opal and formerly White Cliffs was a large producer of high quality opal. Boulder opals (opals in concretionary ironstone) are mined in Queensland from numerous localities in a zone extending from the Eulo and Cunnamulla district in the south and northwest for a distance of over 700 km to Kynuna in the north. The towns of Quilpie, Yowah and Winton are the main opal mining and wholesale centres. Opals are considered gemstones and have been used in jewellery for thousands of years.Throughout much of history, opals were actually believed to be good luck. The Romans thought that opals were one of the luckiest gemstones and a symbol of hope. In the Middle Ages, opals were believed to be bestowed with all the positive properties of coloured gemstones due to its rainbow-like play of colour. Finally, there is a superstition that you should not wear an opal unless it is your birthstone otherwise misfortune will befall you. This, of course, is far-fetched, but the notion could have been promoted in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries by diamond traders who were trying to increase sales of diamonds and deter people from buying opals. Possibly related to this is the thought that you should set opal jewellery with diamonds as their powers of good fortune will override any negativity held by the opal. The great majority of opal does not show play of colour and is called common opal or potch however this is not the case with a precious opal. Opal is a precious gemstone, like rubies, emeralds or diamonds. Opal is rare, and it is expensive to prospect and mine for.Silica is one of the most common minerals on the planet, but precious opal is very rare – far more rare than diamonds. Precious opal is rare because the natural processes that create it rarely occur.Most (at least 95%) of the opal found by miners is common opal without gem colour. In Australia we call it potch. It can be white, grey, black or amber coloured. Even when a miner finds gem-coloured opal, most of it can’t be cut into gemstones because it’s too thin, or sandy. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.It is not known where this opal originated, except that it is probably from Victoria, as it has been recorded from many localities in the State. Common Opal is formed from silica-rich water circulating through rocks near the Earth’s surface. It consists of minute spheres of silica arranged in different ways. In common opal, the spheres are of different sizes and randomly arranged, unlike in precious opal where the spheres are of similar size and uniformly arranged in three dimensions. These differences account for common opal generally being translucent to opaque and without the play of colours, or opalescence, displayed by precious opal. Common opal is found in many localities and different geological environments throughout Australia and the world. Precious opal requires special conditions to form and is much less common. Australia produces most to the world’s precious opal. burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, precious opal, opal, brazil, mexico, honduras, queensland, coober pedy, gemstones, jewellery, play-of-colour, light blue

Feldspathic arenites are sandstones that contain less than 90% quartz, and more feldspar than unstable lithic fragments, and minor accessory minerals.Feldspathic sandstones are commonly immature or sub-mature.These sandstones occur in association with cratonic or stable shelf settings. Feldspathic sandstones are derived from granitic-type, primary crystalline, rocks. If the sandstone is dominantly plagioclase, then it is igneous in origin Sandstone features prominently in public buildings throughout Victoria. Most of the sandstone used as dimension stone in the State came from three sources: the Heatherlie quarry in the Grampians (Silurian), the Bacchus Marsh area (Permian), and the Barrabool Hills near Geelong (Cretaceous).Sandstone features prominently in public buildings throughout Victoria, making this specimen special as it shows the materials used by Victorian building companies. Sandstone can also be crushed, crushed stone is used in the construction of roadways and road structures such as bridges, and in buildings, both commercial and residential. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study. A feldspar-rich sandstone, a sandstone intermediate in composition between an arkosic sandstone and a quartz sandstone, containing 10% to 25% feldspar and less than 20% matrix material of clay, sericite, and chlorite. Feldspathic arenite containing less than 90 percent of the composition of quartz. Feldspar is the main composition. Feldspathic arenite may contain fragments of unstable rock, and a little amount of other minerals such as mica and heavy minerals. Some feldspathic arenite have pink or red color because of the presence of potassium feldspar or iron oxide. There are also colored light gray to white. These sandstones are usually medium to coarse grained and can contain a high percentage of granules with angular until subangular roundness. The content of the matrix can appear as the rest up to more than 15 percent, and sorting of grains can present as moderate to poorly sorted. Feldspathic sandstones are generally immature in textural maturity. Feldspathic arenite can not be judged from the structure of the sediment. Bedding can emerge from the laminate parallel to the crossbed. Fossils may appear in the layer deposited on the sea. Feldspathic arenites usually appear on the craton or the continental shelf, which can be associated with conglomerate, quartz lithic arenite, carbonate rock, or evaporites. This sandstone may also appear on the succession of sedimentary basins deposited on an unstable or deep sea, and moving arc setting. According to Pettijohn (1963) Arkose make up about 15 percent of all sandstones. Some Arkose formed in situ when the granite and related rocks disintegrate and generate granular sediments. Most of the material feldspathic sandstones derived from primary crystalline granitic rocks, such as granite or metasomatic rocks containing abundant potassium feldspar. Mineral contained in sandstones is mostly a form of plagioclase feldspar derived from quartz diorite or volcanic rock. Feldspar contained on this sandstone comes from arid to cool climates when the chemical weathering process is reduced.sandstone, natural stone, feldspathic sandstone, burke museum, geology, geological, geological specimen