The Geology Collections


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Introduction to the Collection

Learning with objects has been an integral part of geological study at UCL since the first half of the nineteenth century. Today, the collection includes not only rocks, minerals and fossils collected over the last 175 years, but also individual collections of historical importance. The highlights include the Johnston-Lavis Volcanological collection, the Planetary Science Collection (Regional Planetary Image Facility) and the internationally recognised Micropalaeontological collections.

Highlights

Representatives from the collections are on show in the Rock Room, the South Wing 1st floor corridor and in the Regional Planetary Image Facility. For further information please visit the collections page.

Listen to a UCL News podcast interview with UCL teaching collections curator Nick Booth about revamping the collection, its history and some of the collection’s most impressive objects:



History of the Collections

The Geology Collections are one of UCL's accredited museums and have a history stretching back to at least 1855. A Museum of Geology was founded then, some 14 years after the first Professor of Geology, Thomas Webster, had come to office.

The Collections have been housed in their present location, the Rock Room, since 1908. For further information please visit the collections page.

Artificial BismuthThe MoonOphioderma EgertoniCross Bedding Slate