Welcome to Quarryville

Imagine digging a whole in your garden to plant a tree and finding a huge animal skull – or a human one!
It could happen – and if it doesn’t rocks and minerals can tell us great stories, too.

Here are some tips on being a geologist.

What you need:

• a notebook and pencil
• sticky labels
• old newspapers
• a strong bag
• a hand lens
• a geological hammer
• goggles to protect your eyes

Golden rules for geologists in rocky areas:

1. Read the Geological Code of Conduct.
2. Ask an adult to accompany you.
3. Never visit quarries or sites on private land without permission.
4. Be careful on cliff tops and watch out for the tide on beaches.
5. Stay away from pools of water, even if they look shallow.
6. Try not to hammer rock faces – many samples can be found on the ground.
7. Only hammer samples on the ground.
8. Protect your face with goggles.
9. Never interfere with birds’ nests or other animal habitats

When collecting:

• Wrap each sample in newspaper, with a label saying exactly where you found it
• Go to your local museum, library or tourist information centre to discover which rocks can be found in your area

At home

• Wash specimens in soapy water with a nailbrush or an old toothbrush
• Put your largest specimens in a clear plastic container
• Set out smaller specimens in an open box or an old drawer
• Put beach pebbles in a jar of water to show their colours best
• Label each specimen, saying where and when you found it
• Keep a geological notebook to record information about your specimens; use one page for each specimen

And if you find any buried treasure… well done!