Geological Collection (page 100)

Migmatite outcrop. Migmatite is formed from the intermingling of Malmesbury rock (dark grey) and intrusive granite (light grey). Malmesbury rock is formed from granite that melted then cooled

Diamonds, computer artwork
Cut and polished diamonds, computer artwork. Diamond is a naturally occurring form of carbon that has crystallised under great pressure

Porlock Ridge, Exmoor, UK
Porlock Ridge, Exmoor, Somerset, UK. This ridge, at Porlock Bay, started forming in the mid Holocene (around 5000 years ago) when sea levels were higher and coastal erosion greater

Molten lava spatter, Hawaii
Molten lava spatter from Pu u O o vent, on Kilauea volcano, in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, USA. Pu u O o is a spatter cone in the eastern rift zone of Kilauea volcano

Travertine ridge at Drevenik National Nature Reserve, Slovakia. The layers of limestone rock seen here were formed successively by the precipitation of calcium carbonate from ground water emerging

Eroded landscape of basalt, an igneous rock
Basalt landscape. Eroded landscape formed from basalt, an igneous rock commonly found in the remains of old lava flows. The terraced appearance of the hillside is due to the presence of several lava

Pahoehoe lava from Kilauea volcano, in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, USA. This thick lava with a ropey texture can flow at speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour

Slate cliff face. Photographed at Cape Enrage, Barn Marsh Island, New Brunswick, Canada

Glacial sand deposit. Sand is composed of small grains of rock. Its composition and grain size varies depending on the location

Merapi volcano, Indonesia
Merapi volcano (2911 metres), Java, Indonesia, seen from the International Space Station (ISS). It is one of Indonesias most active volcanoes and its steam plume is seen being blown to lower left

Tschermakite crystals. This brittle crystalline mineral is found in metamorphic rocks. It contains calcium, magnesium, iron and aluminium in a silicate matrix

Geothermal research site, Kamchatka
Geothermal research site. Aerial photograph of huts (centre) and geothermal wells (upper right) in the Mutnovsky geothermal field

Earths centre, computer artwork. The Earth has an equatorial diameter of 12, 756 kilometres. The orange centre here could represent the mantle

Mount St Helens volcano, USA
Mount St Helens volcano. This is the south side of the Mount St Helens volcano, Washington State, USA. The entire mountainside, including a glacier (centre)

Common shale bedrock on the coast. This shale has been worn smooth by the motion of the sea. Photographed at Rockham Beach, north Devon, UK

Tilted mountain. Mass of rock that has tilted up out of the surrounding rock and formed a mountain. This was caused by the seismic forces associated with the tectonic plates that make up the Earths

Volcanic rock formation, Crater Lake, USA
Volcanic rock formation. Lava outcrop in Crater Lake, Oregon, USA. This outcrop is variously called Phantom Rock, or Phantom Ship

Marble. Surface of polished Italian marble. Marble is a metamorphic rock mainly composed of calcite (calcium carbonate). Traces of impurities give marble its variety of colours

Marss Gale Crater from space
NASAs next Mars rover, the Curiosity Rover, will land at the foot of a layered mountain inside the planets Gale Crater, caused by an asteroid impact millions of years ago

Moon-rise over a volcano. View of the Moon rising over Mount Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands. Mount Teide is an active stratovolcano that sits atop a shield volcano. Photographed in February 2011

Mir mine, Siberia, Russia
452861 08/01/1992 The Mir kimberlite pipe, a pit in the city of Mirny 525 m deep with a 1.2 km diameter is one of the worlds largest pits. Sergey Subbotin/RIA Novosti

Mars 96 penetrator, artwork
Mars 96 penetrator. Artwork showing one of the penetrator probes of the Russian Mars 96 mission landing on Mars after being released from orbit

Rare earth metals, conceptual image. The rare earth metals, or rare earth elements, are a set of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table

Slate mine waste mountain and houses
A mountain of waste from slate mining looms behind houses and a chapel at Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales

Elias Ashmole, English antiquary
Elias Ashmole (1617-1692), English antiquary and collector. Ashmole trained as a lawyer, working in London. During the Civil War (1642-1651) he fled to Oxford and studied alchemy and astrology

Scottish Highlands in winter. Frosted trees and moorland at Elphin, in the Scottish Highlands, looking north-west to Mount Suilven (731 metres)

Human-like rock formation, 19th century
Human-like rock formation, 19th-century artwork. Seen from this angle, this rock formation looks like a human face seen in profile

Gabriel Daubree, French geologist

Mount Suilven in winter
Mount Suilven (731 metres), in the Scottish Highlands, seen from the south at dusk in winter. Suilven, made of layers of Old Red Sandstone, is an example of a type of mountain called an inselberg

Great Orme limestone strata
Inclined strata (dipping bedding planes) in an outcrop of Carboniferous Limestone on the Great Orme tower over part of Llandudno, North Wales

Iron oxide deposit (orange) in a rock. It is deposits like these that are mined to obtain iron ore, which is then processed to produce iron from the iron oxide

Earth layers, artwork
Earth layers. Cutaway computer artwork showing the layers that make up the structure of the Earth and the movement (arrows) of molten lava within them

Trilobite fossil. Trilobites are extinct hard-shelled, segmented arthropods. They lived in the Earths ancient seas between the Cambrian and Permian Periods (around 542-250 million years ago)

Dragonfly larva fossil. Fossilised remains of a Libellula doris dragonfly nymph from the Late Miocene period (around 12-5 million years ago). Found in Costigliole d Asti, Cuneo, Italy

Freshwater dinosaur fossil. Fossilised remains of a young Keichousaurus hui dinosaur. This animal was a Pachypleurosaur, an aquatic freshwater reptile that lived around 229-217 million years ago

Fossilised pterosaur footprint. Fossilised remains of a footprint made by a Pterodactylus cerinensis pterosaur during the Jurassic period (around 200 to 145 million years ago)

Fossilised prehistoric aquatic organism. Fossilised remains (circles) of Cyclomedusa radiata from the Proterozoic era, around 2500-542 million years ago

Meteoric impact, 17th century. This fall of a meteor to Earth was observed in Styria, Austria, an event that is recorded as having taken place in August 1618

Franz Josef Land, Russia
Franz Josef Land. View across a snowy landscape on the Franz Josef Land archipelago, Russia. Photographed in April

Prehistoric perch fossil. Fossilised remains of a Priscacara liops fish from the Eocene epoch (around 56-34 million years ago). Found in the Green River formation, Wyoming, USA

Prehistoric brittle star fossils. Fossilised remains of Sinosaura kelheimense brittle stars from the Jurassic period (around 200-145 million years ago). Found in Bavaria, Germany

Spider crater, Australia, satellite image
Spider Crater, satellite image. This crater (centre left), in Western Australia, is estimated to have been formed between 900 and 600 million years ago. Vegetation is green and bare rock is red

Sodalite. The larger specimens are in their natural state, the two smaller specimens have been polished. Sodalite is a rare silicate (sodium aluminium silicate chloride) mineral

Iron distribution map, Barringer Crater
Iron distribution map for Barringer Crater, Arizona, USA, also known as Meteor Crater. A six-mile (9.65-kilometre) radius circle, centred on the crater

Ensisheim meteor fall, 1492
Ensisheim meteor fall. Woodcut showing the fall of a meteorite in 1492 near the villages of Ensisheim and Battenheim (both labelled), then in Germany (German text across top)

Negev Desert, Israel. This is the view from kibbutz Sde Boker looking south towards Ein Avdat canyon and the Wadi Zin valley

Serra da Cangalha crater, Brazil
Serra da Cangalha crater, satellite image. This impact crater, in Tocantins, Brazil, was formed 220 million years ago. It has a diameter of 12 kilometres. Vegetation is green, bare ground is purple

Nicholson crater, Canada, satellite image
Nicholson crater, satellite image. This crater, in the Northwest Territories, Canada, was formed by a meteorite impact 400 million years ago. Water is dark blue, ice is light blue

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"Unveiling Earth's Ancient Secrets: A Journey through Geological Wonders" Embark on a captivating journey through time as we explore the fascinating world of geology. From William Smith's groundbreaking geological map to the awe-inspiring phenomenon of continental drift after 250 million years, every step reveals nature's hidden treasures. Marvel at the majestic Malham Cove in Yorkshire Dales, where towering limestone cliffs stand as a testament to millions of years processes. The intricate details captured in the geological map of Britain and Ireland showcase the diverse landscapes that have shaped our islands over centuries. Delve into history with a glimpse into 19th-century geological strata, unraveling layers upon layers of ancient stories etched within rocks. Jenny Lake stands serenely before the magnificent Teton range in Grand Teton National Park, reminding us how geology intertwines with breathtaking natural beauty across North America. Witness mankind's exploration beyond Earth as Apollo 17 astronauts ventured into space, capturing mesmerizing images that unveiled celestial bodies' geological wonders. Barga in Italy and Tenerife seen from satellite imagery offer glimpses into unique geological formations that leave us marveling at Mother Nature's artistry. Transport yourself back to 1883 when Krakatoa erupted, painting vibrant sunsets across skies worldwide - immortalized by artists who sought to capture this extraordinary display inspired by volcanic activity. The comprehensive British Islands' geological map unravels secrets buried deep beneath our feet while shedding light on their mineral wealth like copper and magnesium sulphate. Join us on this incredible expedition through time and space as we uncover Earth’s most remarkable geological phenomena – an adventure you won't want to miss.