Rock Collection

0 Collections | Updated 1 month ago

The Earth and Planetary Sciences department at the Western Australian Museum maintains a small but diverse collection of rocks. The department’s rocks are mostly derived from Western Australia, but also include a range sourced from international localities.

This collection includes historic rock specimens from early Western Australian explorers such as Edward T. Hardman and the Elder Expedition.

More recent additions to the Rock Collection include:

  • a comprehensive suite of specimens from the diamond-bearing Aries kimberlite (central Kimberley region, Western Australia),
  • specimens from the Ellendale lamproites (Western Australia),
  • specimens from the Speewah fluorite deposit (Kimberley region, Western Australia),
  • pegmatite specimens from Wodgina and other localities in the Pilbara,
  • Hawaiian basalts,
  • the alkaline rock collection of Bram Janse.
Number of items 1000 specimens

Collection Highlights

Collections

Donate to the collection

Donations of suitable, well-documented rock specimens are welcomed, particularly from current mining operations. The Western Australian Museum collection is registered as one to which donations of significant intrinsic value can be made under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme.

Guidelines for identification

Staff of the department identify material for the public on request.

Collection contact

Alex Bevan
Head of Earth and Planetary Sciences department
alex.bevan@museum.wa.gov.au

Peter Downes
Curator
peter.downes@museum.wa.gov.au

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