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From the collection of The Beechworth Burke Museum
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Geological specimen - Spotted Slate, Unknown

  • A disfigured rectangular like shape of fine-grained, poorly foliated, porphyroblastic metamorphic rock. The spotted slate is light grey in colour with darker flecks throughout.

    10295 (configuration 1)

  • A disfigured rectangular like shape of fine-grained, poorly foliated, porphyroblastic metamorphic rock. The spotted slate is light grey in colour with darker flecks throughout.

    10295 (configuration 2)

  • A disfigured rectangular like shape of fine-grained, poorly foliated, porphyroblastic metamorphic rock. The spotted slate is light grey in colour with darker flecks throughout.

    10295 (configuration 3)

  • A disfigured rectangular like shape of fine-grained, poorly foliated, porphyroblastic metamorphic rock. The spotted slate is light grey in colour with darker flecks throughout.

    10295 (configuration 4)

  • A disfigured rectangular like shape of fine-grained, poorly foliated, porphyroblastic metamorphic rock. The spotted slate is light grey in colour with darker flecks throughout.
  • A disfigured rectangular like shape of fine-grained, poorly foliated, porphyroblastic metamorphic rock. The spotted slate is light grey in colour with darker flecks throughout.
  • A disfigured rectangular like shape of fine-grained, poorly foliated, porphyroblastic metamorphic rock. The spotted slate is light grey in colour with darker flecks throughout.
  • A disfigured rectangular like shape of fine-grained, poorly foliated, porphyroblastic metamorphic rock. The spotted slate is light grey in colour with darker flecks throughout.

Historical information

This specimen was recovered from Sedgwick, VIC. Spotted slate is a fine-grained porphyroblastic metamorphic rock with a number of compounds including muscovite, quartz, graphite with cordierite poikiloblasts and more. The cordierite poikiloblasts are rounded crystals that size up to 2.5 mm. the growth of these crystals is in response to metamorphism of low to medium intensity. The town Sedgwick was named after British geologist Adam Sedgwick

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 solid rectangular hand-sized spotted slate specimen in a shade of light grey with darker flecks throughout

Inscriptions & markings

Spotted Slate / Locality: Sedgwick Victoria | This is an early specimen / from the Quarter sheet / map. See sample 62 / page 18. Described as 'Spotted Slate' but these / days we would call it spotted hornfels / C. William 15/4/21

Subjects

References

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