The rock is approximately 2.5 billion years old ... oxide inclusions (jasper), and gold bands are amphibole and quartz. Specimen collected by Cin-Ty Lee.

Most of this work is done by fossil preparators - experts in the tools and techniques needed to release specimens from the rock they’ve spent millions of years encased in. When palaeontologists find a ...

The rock specimen was cleaned and sterilized to prevent contamination by water- and air-borne microbes during drilling and transfer procedures. Only a section confirmed to be free from external ...

This beginner's guide to identifying UK rock types explains the processes of rock formation and features a hand-specimen guide with examples of rock samples.