Across two cabinets, poster displays and maps, this micro-exhibition explores aspects of collecting, discovering and examining the rocks, fossils and minerals which make up the world around us.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm | Wednesday - CLOSED | Saturday 9:00am - 3:00pm | Sunday 10:00am - 3:00pm
The exhibition is located at the end of the walkway, clearly signposted. Free admission.
Cabinet 1
THE ANCIENT WORLD BENEATH OUR FEET
Cretaceous Period, 66-145 million years ago
This cabinet is a striking visual representation from the deepest sea to the sky, showing the Stapleford area during the Cretaceous Period. Learn about microscopic coccoliths which make up the Chalk rock formations, bivalves and crinoids on the sea floor, predatory marine reptiles ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, and flying pterosaurs.
Cabinet 2
WHAT ARE ROCKS MADE OF?
This cabinet shows a step-by-step breakdown from rocks, to minerals, to crystals to atomic chemical structures. It includes historic ball and spoke chemical structures made locally by Crystal Structures Ltd, scientific consultants and instrument makers based at Cherry Hinton Road and at their main site in Bottisham between 1947 and 1975.
The collection is kindly loaned to us and curated by Dr Michael Romano, a leading expert in trilobites and dinosaur footprints.