Earth science

The Mineralogy and Palaeontology collections include rocks, minerals, gemstones and fossils. Learn more about these naturally occurring, inorganic solids.

Updated

01/09/20

Shaping the Earth

What makes the Earth unique? Where does it fit in the Solar System and, ultimately, the universe? Take a look inside the Earth and find out what it is made from and how it is structured. Look at the processes that shape the Earth.

What are minerals?

Minerals are the building blocks of our planet. Discover what they reveal about the history of Earth and our solar system and what makes them so essential to our existence.

Mineral properties

Minerals can be identified using a number of properties. These include physical and chemical properties such as hardness, density, cleavage and colour, crystallography, electrical conductivity, magnetism, radioactivity and fluorescence.

Find out more

Gemstones

Gemstones are prized for their beautiful colours and patterns and are used in a range of applications including jewellery, decorative items and as important features of mineral collections.

School girl looking at megafauna display

Australia over time

Learn about our evolving landscape, Australian megafauna and other extinct animals and how we use fossils to relate the animals of the past with those of today.

Megafauna
Fossil sites in Australia
Geological time scale

Learn more