Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science WB Clarke Geoscience Centre and Core Library Excursion

Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science students toured the Core Library on Thursday 26th May, learning about the role of this facility in resource exploration. Students completed activities that included a simulation of geophysical sensing, and mapping drill cores to determine what is underground and also used fossils to determine the age of rock layers. 

Activities and talks from Core Library staff helped students to understand the role of geological exploration and the Geological Survey of NSW. They learned about the different scientific specialties involved in collecting and interpreting information, as well as the uses of a library containing representative geological samples from across the state. AusEarthEd facilitated the excursion on behalf of the NSW Geoscience centre. I think the highlight for many students was seeing gold samples and the forklift squeezing through and up and down the aisles at the library.

Some thoughts from the students:

Holly Lollback

The core library is a bank of rock samples from all over New South Wales and the library provides a facility for the analysis and collation of the geology of this vast region. On the excursion we were able to see the significance of mining to the economy and to an understanding of Australia's geology of Australia. We were able to experience the processes and equipment used by professional geologists in analysing rock samples.

The most interesting thing about the core library was being able to talk to professional geologists and hear about their experiences. This was because it allowed me to understand the sheer scale of mining in Australia and the significance of the library to obtaining a near-complete knowledge of Australia's geology.

The activities were helpful as they provided a visual and literal model to cement our understanding of the concepts. The excursion is a useful learning experience because it allowed me to consolidate my understanding and provided an interesting experience.

Layla Elphinstone

“The most interesting thing about the core library was the forklift. This was because it was very cool.

The activities (finding resources using gravity and magnetic properties, relative dating of fossils) were helpful because they gave us first-hand experience in their everyday jobs and the processes of receiving, studying and storing the samples from different depths and locations. The excursion is a useful learning experience because it exposed us to a new/ unknown learning environment, with a range of new opportunities”

Other comments:

“The excursion is a useful learning experience because it gave insight into how they operate and how they find minerals or ores in Australia today including the range of careers you can go into if you find this path of work interesting.”