Discover
Rocks
Anna Brookfield
Describe yourself in three words: Enthusiastic, forgetful, determined.
What's under Lapland?
We know it as the home of Father Christmas, but why is Lapland of interest to geologists?
In this festive episode of the Big Questions podcast we ask Anna Bidgood from the University of Oxford's Department of Earth Sciences "What's under Lapland?". Join us as we find out why the minerals found in the region are important, and what it's...
Information on what the Oxford University Museum of Natural History can offer to schools and teachers of KS3
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History provides lots of activities appropriate for Key Stage 3 students and teachers. From online image galleries and quizzes to regular educational sessions in the museum, there are some invaluable resources here so check them out!
Learn about compaction and cementation of rocks
As deposition continues, new sedimentary rocks will gradually form in layers: this can occur on riverbeds, or at the bottom of the ocean.
To find out more about how sedimentary rocks form, follow the link below.
Learn about weathering of rocks
Rocks might appear to be rock-solid, but over many thousands of years, lots of different processes can cause them to break up and fall apart. Some of these are natural, and down to processes like the weather. Others are down to animals and trees that can expand cracks in rocks. Others still are down to chemical processes, and some of these -...
Learn more about mineral colour
What's your favourite colour? Here you can find out all about how and why minerals come in so many different colours. Some specific shades, such as quartz, are named after the minerals that reflect that exact wavelength of light in nature! You can even select a colour from a pie chart and we'll show you which minerals can be found in that shade...
Learn more about the rocks on display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History
What is a rock?
It sounds like an easy question, but do you think you could give a truly scientific definition? Follow the link below to find out!
Download a sorting minerals activity
Minerals come in all shapes and sizes - take a look at this worksheet from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and see what you think of these!
Land, Sea and Air 1 - How mountains are made
How do we discover the origins of mountains?
Matt Sutton
I’ve always been fascinated by the natural world and love being outdoors in general. My childhood dream was to be an astronaut (a hope I’ve still not totally abandoned!), but I began my current career direction after developing a passion for geology at A-level. I followed that up with an undergraduate degree in Earth Sciences at Oxford. Once...
