Victorian Collections logo
The Beechworth Burke Museum
From the collection of The Beechworth Burke Museum
883 Items featured online

Geological specimen - Biotite in Graphic Granite

  • A small textured caramel-coloured granite rock with brown marbling. On the upper right side is an oblong indentation revealing shiny deep brown to black layer.

    11001 (1)

  • A small textured caramel-coloured rock with brown marbling.

    11001(2)

  • A small textured caramel-coloured rock with brown marbling in the shape of a hexagon. Two deep-brown patches visible on the top left.

    11001(3)

  • A small textured caramel-coloured rock with brown marbling. Standing upright, slim shape with flat top and bottom. Right side is angled, deep-brown in colour with a glassy texture.

    11001(4)

  • A small textured caramel-coloured rock with matte dark and light brown patches. Slight indentation on the left side, revealing small brushstrokes of a glassy dark brown colour with the imprint of a star visible.

    11001(5)

  • A small, textured caramel-coloured rock with brown patches. Top left side is angled and a darker brown. Top right side dips like a slide. A deeper indentation at the front is dark brown with an imprint the shape of a star.

    11001(6)

  • A small textured caramel-coloured rock with brown patches and marbling. Oblong indentation in the centre is dark brown. Indentation on the right side is dark brown with an imprint the shape of a star.

    11001(7)

  • A small textured caramel-coloured granite rock with brown marbling. On the upper right side is an oblong indentation revealing shiny deep brown to black layer.
  • A small textured caramel-coloured rock with brown marbling.
  • A small textured caramel-coloured rock with brown marbling in the shape of a hexagon. Two deep-brown patches visible on the top left.
  • A small textured caramel-coloured rock with brown marbling. Standing upright, slim shape with flat top and bottom. Right side is angled, deep-brown in colour with a glassy texture.
  • A small textured caramel-coloured rock with matte dark and light brown patches. Slight indentation on the left side, revealing small brushstrokes of a glassy dark brown colour with the imprint of a star visible.
  • A small, textured caramel-coloured rock with brown patches. Top left side is angled and a darker brown. Top right side dips like a slide. A deeper indentation at the front is dark brown with an imprint the shape of a star.
  • A small textured caramel-coloured rock with brown patches and marbling. Oblong indentation in the centre is dark brown. Indentation on the right side is dark brown with an imprint the shape of a star.

Historical information

Graphic Granite is an igneous rock formed through magma or lava and is characterised by its unique inter-growth of quartz, crystals and biotite (black mica minerals). Like other granites, graphic granite crystallizes deep within the earth's crust under pressure. When split, graphic granite can reveal interesting structures that may resemble symbols, hieroglyphs or crude attempts at writing.

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 collections were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey in Victoria that began in 1852 in response to the Gold Rush. Collecting these specimens was an important part of Australia's early Geological scientific discovery for mapping the earth's surface.

Physical description

A small textured caramel-coloured rock with brown marbling and indentations revealing pieces of Biotite (Black Mica). A marking with a star-like appearance is visible in the Biotite on the front of the rock.

Subjects

References

TOP
Back to top