Historical information

This specimen was recovered from Creswick in Victoria. Basalt is dark in colour, often black and has a fine grain. It is composed of plagioclase and pyroxene minerals and an igneous rock.

Significance

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.

Physical description

A cylindrical fine-grained piece of igneous rock