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  1. Homepage
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  3. Earth science

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

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Earth photographed from space.

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.

Read more

Amethyst geode D.47883

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.

Read more

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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

Chalcedony blue and white

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.

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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

Long-wave fluorescing minerals

Mineralogy

Learn more about our mineralogy and petrology collections and study of minerals and rocks.

Gemstones
Crystals
Learn more


  • Mineralogy Collection

    Study of rocks & minerals.
    Learn more
  • Palaeontology collection

    Ancient animals and plant fossils.
    Read more
  • Australian Museum Research Institute

    Scientific discovery and conservation of our collections.
    Find out more

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Illustration of pacific objects

The Sarah Stone Collection

A fascinating collection of original watercolours by a talented female natural history artist.

Illustrations of objects from Captain Cook’s voyages
View collection

MalacologyCollection Area 2018

Malacology

Learn about our collection and study of molluscs; including chitons, clams, mussels, snails, nudibranchs (sea slugs), tusk shells, octopus and squid.

Molluscs
Nudibranchs
Learn more

Entomology Collection Area

Entomology

Entomology is the study of insects including flies, cicadas, moths, earwigs, fleas, bugs, cockroaches, bees, dragonflies, and termites.

Butterflies
Beetles
Find out more

Amanda Hay

Ichthyology

Learn about the Australian Museum Ichthyology collection and research of fishes.

Study of fishes
News stories
Staff & Researchers
Visitors
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Asaro Mud Men in the museum

Asaro collection from Papua New Guinea

Explore the culture surrounding the Mud Men of Asaro, from the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Holosa (ghost) Mud Masks
Performances
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3D scanning of fish fossils

Collection objects in 3D

See some of our rare and unique natural science and cultural collection objects in 3D.

Egyptian collection
Fish and fossils
Extinct mammals
Learn more

Long-wave fluorescing minerals

Mineralogy

Learn more about our mineralogy and petrology collections and study of minerals and rocks.

Gemstones
Crystals
Learn more

Marine Invertebrates Collection Area 2018

Marine Invertebrates

The Marine Invertebrates section is active in research on a variety of taxa, such as annelids, cnidarians and crustaceans, and holds extensive collections of most marine phyla

Crustaceans
Polychaetes
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Goniometer

Historical artefacts collection

Our collection of historical objects, memorabilia and artefacts help tell the story of the history and development of the Australian Museum.

Exhibition displays
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Frog on a branch

Herpetology

Herpetology is the study of amphibians, including frogs, toads, salamanders and caecilians, and reptiles, including lizards, snakes, turtles and crocodiles.

Amphibians
Reptiles
Find out more

Mineral specimen

Albert Chapman collection

The Albert Chapman mineral collection was purchased by the New South Wales Government in 1988.

820 rock and mineral specimens
Mineralogy collection
Discover more

African Mask E76274

African Collection

In 1884, the Museum acquired nearly 100 cultural objects of the Zulu people, South Africa. Learn more about the collection material originally from Africa.

Zulu shields
Stone Hand Axes from Somalia
Read more

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The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.
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We pay our respect to Aboriginal Elders and recognise their continuous connection to Country.
This website may contain names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Photo of two painted shields

The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.

Image credit: gadigal yilimung (shield) made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden