Petrology Collection

Item details


Name of item:	Petrology Collection
Other name/s:	Rock Collection; Thin Section Collection; Petrological Collection
Type of item:	Movable / Collection
Group/Collection:	Landscape - Natural
Category:	Geological site or area
Location:	Lat: -33.684026 Long: 150.730894
Primary address:	947-953 Londonderry Road, Londonderry, NSW 2753
Local govt. area:	Penrith
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Deerubbin

Boundary:

The SHR listing curtilage/boundary is limited to the moveable collection itself and does not include any part of the land or structure where it is currently held at the W.B. Clarke Geoscience Centre, 947-953 Londonderry Road, Londonderry.

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
947-953 Londonderry Road	Londonderry	Penrith			Primary Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Geological Survey of NSW	State Government

Statement of significance:


	The Petrology Collection is of State heritage significance for its historical, associative, research, rarity, and representative values. The collection has historic value as an ongoing record of the lithology and rock types of NSW that reflects the historical process of geological exploration across the State. It also has associative value for its strong connection with the Geological Survey of NSW. The Petrology Collection has research value for its ability to provide substantial ongoing contributions to the field of geology in NSW and Australia. It is vital for ongoing geological research aimed towards improving and refining available geological mapping and stratigraphic models of the State, advancing knowledge of the geological history of NSW and Australia. As the only focused petrological collection of its type in the State, the Petrology Collection has rarity value as a unique ongoing archive of the lithology and rock types of NSW, collected from the 1880s to the present. It also holds a range of individually unique and irreplaceable specimens in the State context, including specimens of high scientific value or those from historic mines or engineering projects that are no longer accessible or have been destroyed. Finally, the collection is representative of the lithology and rock types of NSW and demonstrates the full breadth of the geological history of NSW. The Petrology Collection is historically linked to the Mining Museum (former) (SHR 01555) where it was located between 1909 and the early 1990s, and is associated with the other collections created and held by the Geological Survey of NSW: the Fossil Collection (SHR 00971) and Economic Rock and Mineral Collection (SHR 02120).
	Date significance updated: 21 Nov 00
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	N/A
Builder/Maker:	George W. Card
Construction years:	1893-
Physical description:	The Petrology Collection is a moveable collection that contains a range of rock specimens, thin sections, polished sections, and polished ore blocks that document the lithology and rock types of NSW. It also includes specimens from other parts of Australia and overseas for comparative and reference purposes. The SHR listing curtilage/boundary is limited to the moveable collection itself and does not include any part of the land or structure where it is currently held at the W.B. Clarke Geoscience Centre, 947-953 Londonderry Road, Londonderry. The State Heritage Register listing of this collection encompasses only the geological specimens and associated thin sections, polished sections, and polished ore blocks. The associated historic registers and archives are not included. PETROLOGY COLLECTION DESCRIPTION The Petrology Collection is currently (as of 2025) held as the W.B. Clarke Geoscience Centre, Londonderry. It is owned and managed by the Geological Survey of NSW (GSNSW), which is currently part of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, NSW Resources. The Petrology Collection functions as a record of the lithology and rock types found across NSW. The GSNSW has amassed the collection since the late 1880s through the efforts of its geological staff during routine surveying and mapping programs (Meszaros 2025). The collection is the primary evidence base for GSNSW's ongoing geological mapping and stratigraphic modelling. It serves as the physical record and reference source for all the rock descriptions and petrology determinations that are used in these models. Additionally, it is the verifiable physical truth behind the background sampling undertaken via GSNSW's Field Observations data entry and collection system. Overall, the collection represents a cost-effective repository of a large amount of accumulated geological data that can be re-accessed for verification, re-analysis, and further scientific study when required (Meszaros 2025). The collection covers the entire geological sequence of NSW, which stretches from the present to the Paleoproterozoic, approximately 1,700 to 1,600 million years. The oldest rock samples in the collection are from the Willyama Supergroup, which are found in the Broken Hill region. The oldest individual specimen is from the Redan Gneiss and has a specific age date of 1,710 +/- 4 million years (Meszaros 2025). Since at least the 1980s the GSNSW have sought to build the Petrology Collection to contain (Black 1985:4): - a representative collection of rock specimens and thin sections. - a representative range of various rock suites. - a representative collection of rock structures. - a representative range of rock specimens and thin sections depicting the regional geology of NSW. - specimens of intrinsic geological and cultural heritage value. - comparative specimens for research and education. - a representative suite of rock specimens from classic Australian and overseas petrological provinces. Due to its historical provenance (see historical notes for further information) the Petrology Collection is primarily formed from two different, but related, subcollections: - Rock samples: consisting of hand specimens of rock types collected by GSNSW geologists. These samples are formally assessed and identified by petrologists and the resultant information used to inform GSNSW geological mapping projects. These samples are either kept whole or sliced to create sections for further analysis. - Thin sections: consisting of small glass slides containing geological thin sections taken from the rock samples. These thin sections are used for detailed analysis by geologists and petrologists utilising transmitted light microscopy. The cutting process to produce the thin sections is undertaken in the petrology laboratory at the W.B. Clarke Geoscience Centre. The collection also contains a subcollection of polished sections and polished ore blocks. These polished specimens are utilised in reflected light microscopy which is a complementary type of petrological analysis to the transmitted light microscopy used on thin sections. Light is reflected off the opaque section or ore block to produce an image of the sample's surface features allowing the optical properties of the component minerals to be identified. This subcollection appears to have been formally commenced in the mid-1970s, although there are many specimens that were created prior to this date (Meszaros 2025). Each rock sample and its accompanying thin section, polished section, or polished ore block have the same catalogue number (prefaced with 'T') to clearly indicate their association. In total, the collection contains over 94,000 rock samples and associated thin sections, polished sections, or ore blocks: noting that not all rock samples have sections or ore blocks, and there may be more than one section taken from a sample. The different subcollections are stored in accordance with their specific requirements: The rock samples are presently stored in annotated plastic tubs on pallets in a bulk storage system, the thin sections are stored in annotated metal slide cabinets, and the polished sections and ore blocks are stored in annotated wooden cabinets. The GSNSW is currently in the process of upgrading their storage systems to current museum standards. Over the history of the collection the information recorded for each rock sample and associated section or ore block has changed in accordance with technological advancements in geological science and mapping systems. For instance, the catalogue entries for the older, 1894-1954, thin sections (T1-T16000) usually only have a locality name and rock name. In contrast, the collection from T16000 onwards typically have additional map references, grid references, formational names, and map symbols (Barron 1992b:130). The collection provides a glimpse into the history of the GSNSW, as well as mining activity across the State. For instance, almost all the Geological Surveyors who have served with the Geological Survey of NSW have contributed rock samples to the collection. This includes a range of eminent Australian geologists including Charles S. Wilkinson, Joseph E. Carne, Sir Edgeworth David, Edward. F. Pittman, and Ernest C. Andrews. It also contains samples from many of the mining activities and process that have occurred throughout the history of the State. This includes historic mines, as well as engineering projects such as the Snowy Mountains Scheme hydroelectric tunnels (Barron 1990; 1992b:130) The collection contains a large number of specimens which are unique, and in some instances, practically irreplaceable. For example, some specimens were collected from mines and mineral prospects that no longer operate or are no longer available for sampling. Other specimens were collected during unusual engineering projects or mining events, such as the Snowy Mountain tunnels or drill bores, which means they are either impossible or too expensive to re-collect. Additionally, there are numerous specimens that represent unique geoscientific data points (such as specific age-dated specimens). The collection also contains relatively rare rock type examples, as well as particularly good specimens displaying important petrological or geological characteristics, such as the blue schists of the Port Macquarie area (Barron 1992b:130; Meszaros 2025). The Petrology Collection is available to external researchers and academics for research purposes. Research access it normally restricted to non-destructive analysis, except in special circumstances where abundant material is available. All new data stemming from research use is appended to the specimen record in GSNSW data repositories (Meszaros 2025).
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	The Petrology Collection is well managed and stored, and in good condition. Its storage facilities are currently (as of 2025) being upgraded to modern museum standards.
	Date condition updated:30 Oct 25
Modifications and dates:	1875: Formation of the Geological Survey of NSW. 1876: The new Geological and Mining Museum opened at Young Street, Sydney. 1881: Geological and Mining Museum moved to the Garden Palace. 1882: Majority of museum collection destroyed in the Garden Palace Fire. Collection is rebuilt in the wake of the fire. 1886: Rebuilt museum collection displayed to the public at the temporary Geological and Mining Museum within the Geological Survey Office at 233 Macquarie Street, Sydney. Late 1880s: Rock Collection and Thin Section Collection informally commenced. 1893: Mining and Geological Museum moved to the Domain, behind Sydney Hospital. 1893: George W. Card begins cataloguing the Rock Collection and Thin Section Collection. 1909: Mining and Geological Museum moved to new accommodation at 36-64 George Street, in the Rocks (the Mining Museum (former) SHR 01555). 1912: Rock Collection and Thin Section Collection merged to create Petrology Collection. c.1992: Rock samples located at Core Library at Londonderry, thin sections located at the Mineral Resources Development Laboratory at Lidcombe. 1995: Earth Exchange closes. 2000s: Thin Sections moved to the W.B. Clarke Geoscience Centre at Londonderry. The Petrology Collection grows continuously as specimens are acquired and added to the collection.


Current use:	Petrological collection used for reference and research.

History

Historical notes:

STATEMENT OF COUNTRY

The specimens of the Petrology Collection have been gathered from the traditional lands of many Aboriginal groups from across NSW (and Australia). The collection is representative of segments of the physical landscape upon which Aboriginal people have lived for countless generations. In some instances, they represent examples of the material types that were actively used or valued by Aboriginal people for different purposes.

PETROLOGY COLLECTION HISTORY

The history of the Petrology Collection is interwoven with the original collection gathered by the Geological Survey of NSW (GSNSW) for display at the Mining and Geological Museum from 1875. Over time this collection appears to have separated into distinct focused collections including those that are today known as the Economic Rock and Mineral Collection (SHR 02120), Fossil Collection (SHR 00971) , and Petrology Collection.

For a detailed history of the GSNSW and the Geological and Mining Museum please see the history contained with the Economic Rock and Mineral Collection SHR Listing (SHR 02120). The below history is focused on the creation and management of the Petrology Collection by the petrologists of GSNSW.

The current Petrology Collection stems from two separate, but related, collections that were likely originally commenced in the later 1880s by the GSNSW for purely scientific, lithological and petrological purposes (Barron 1991:2; 1992a:i; Card 1897:142; 1898:197):
(1) The Rock Collection: comprising of rock samples collected by Geological Surveyors for lithological purposes .
(2) Thin Section Collection: comprising of thin sections taken from rock samples (not necessarily from the Rock Collection) for microscopic petrological examination.

While these collections were commenced in the later part of the 1880s they included rock samples that had been collected by Geological Surveyors from field trips as far back as 1880. These samples were intended to help them analyse and illustrate the lithology of different sites and districts when preparing routine geological reports (Barron 1991; 1992a:i).

The Geological Surveyors of the GSNSW became more interested in petrology and the microscopic analysis of rock samples using thin sections during the second half of the 1880s. Sir Edgeworth David (later of the Australian Museum) was a particular exponent of this type of petrological analysis from 1885. Over the following years, thin sections of rock samples began to be prepared for microscopic examination and exhibition in the Mining and Geological Museum. This period marks the informal beginning of the Thin Section Collection as at least some of the thin sections prepared during this period were added to the collection during later cataloguing events (Barron 1992a; David 1886:147; 1887:145; 1891:220, 260; Wilkinson 1888:140).

Following the promotion of J. E. Carne to Geological Surveyor in 1892, George W. Card was appointed as the new Curator of the Geological Museum. Card's qualifications as a mineralogist and petrologist were valued by the GSNSW due to the growing interest in petrology and microscopic analysis within the department (Pittman 1983:7).

Card commenced his duties as curator and mineralogist in 1893 and began providing valuable petrological descriptions of rock samples through the microscopic analysis of thin sections. As part of this process, and his duties as curator, Card began a process of registering the collections under his care, as well as preparing and arranging the museum exhibits. This included formerly creating the Rock Collection and Thin Section Collection (Card 1894:126-127; 1898:190, 197; Pittman 1894:106).

Over the following years Card continued to provide this type of microscopic analysis for rock or mineral samples obtained from the Government Surveyors or mining companies. Unfortunately, in 1896 a silverfish outbreak destroyed or damaged the previous paper labels of the Rock Collection, requiring an urgent recataloguing process by Card and his staff. This process marks the beginning of the existing Rock Collection register. By this time around 200-300 thin sections were being created and registered in the Thin Section Collection each year. From 1896-1897 Card was referring to Thin Section and Rock Collection catalogue numbers in his reports, demonstrating that a systemised analyse process was in place (Card 1895:147; 1896:184; 1897:143; 1898: 190; Carne 1896:144; 1897:104; 1898:164; 1899:160; Pittman 1897:97).

In 1897 Card and his staff finally completed the cataloguing process for the Rock Collection, as well as the arrangement of the museum exhibits. Over the next few years, new technology, including a small diamond-cutting lathe and petrological microscope, increased the efficiency of thin section production and petrological analysis (Card 1898:190, 197; 1899a: 164; 1899b:177-9; 1900:194).

In 1912 Card determined to merge the two collections to create the modern Petrology Collection. From this point onwards the new Petrology Collection consisted of both rock samples and thin sections, which shared the same catalogue system (an extension of the original Thin Section catalogue). Each new rock sample and associated thin section was provided the same catalogue number (Barron 1991:2; 1992a:i).

Over the following decades the Petrology Collection steadily grew as petrological analysis became a crucial element of the routine geological work of the GSNSW. While the collection grew at an average rate of 160 rocks per year from c1890 to 1953, this increased to 290 rocks per year from 1954 to 1970. From 1970 onwards the growth of the collection increased exponentially at an average of 1620 rocks per year. This dramatic increase was caused by a policy change where all rocks that were thin sectioned were added to the collection, whereas previously only rocks that were petrologically analysed were added to the collection (Barron 1992a; 1992b:130-131).

From 1979 through to the early 1990s, the petrologist L. M. Barron overhauled all the processes associated with the Petrology Collection. This overhaul was spurred by the inefficient manual cataloguing processes which were resulting in inconsistent geological descriptions and petrological information being provided for catalogue entries. A range of computer databases were created to replace the hardcopy Petrology Collection catalogue, as well as the original Rock Collection Catalogue. These updated systems improved functionality of the collection, the accuracy of the cataloguing process, and allowed efficient information retrieval. Barron and his staff also cleaned, resorted, and reboxed the older parts of the collection, as well as updated the rock names for the older entries (Barron 1979:3; 1989:1-3; 1991:2-3; 1992a:i-ii; 1992b:130-132; Barron and Bai 1986:4).

By 1992 the Petrology Collection rock samples had been moved to the Core Library at Londonderry, while the thin sections were stored with the Specialist Services Section at the Mineral Resources Development Laboratory at Lidcombe. By this time the collection had grown to over 50,000 rocks and thin sections (Barron 1992b:130).

During the early 2000s the thin sections were located at the Maitland Office of the GSNSW. Due to issues with collection management, the collection was then moved to Londonderry where access could be controlled by the petrologist. Since this time the entire collection has been housed at the W. B. Clarke Geoscience Centre.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	Cultural: Geological evidence of the history of the Earth-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Science-Activities associated with systematic observations, experiments and processes for the explanation of observable phenomena	Researching geology-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Petrology Collection is of historic significance as an invaluable record of the geological history of NSW. As an ongoing record of the lithology and rock types of NSW, this collection is a vital archive and reference resource within the Geological Survey of NSW. It is a unique collection that is the foundation for the identification and systematisation of rock types across the State and is the primary evidence base for the Geological Survey of NSW's ongoing geological mapping and stratigraphic models. Amassed since the 1880s by the geological surveyors and geologists of the Geological Survey of NSW, the collection reflects the historical process of geological exploration across the State. Furthermore, it can physically demonstrate the entire timespan of the geological history of NSW, which stretches back to the Paleoproterozoic, 1,700-1,600 million years ago.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The Petrology Collection is of associative significance for its strong connection with its owner, the Geological Survey of NSW. The Geological Survey of NSW is an institution with a scientific mission dating back to its establishment as one of the first geological surveys globally in 1875. It continues to play a pivotal role in advancing geological and palaeontological science in NSW and Australia. Its ongoing research and geological mapping and dating is responsible for the current understanding of the geology and palaeontology of NSW. Its work has actively supported and assisted the mining industry and the mineral exploration of the State, concurrently driving the economic development of NSW.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The Petrology Collection has research potential for its ability to provide substantial ongoing contributions to the field of geology in NSW and Australia. As a record of the lithology and rock types of the State the collection is a valuable research resource for geologists and geoscientists studying the geological record of NSW and Australia. It contains samples of nearly all rock types found across NSW, as well as from the entire geological timespan of the State. As such, it is vital for ongoing geological research aimed towards improving and refining available geological mapping and stratigraphic models of the State, advancing knowledge of the geological history of NSW and Australia.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The Petrology Collection is considered rare as a unique ongoing archive of the lithology and rock types of NSW, collected from the 1880s to the present. It is the only focused petrological collection of its type in the State. The Petrology Collection holds a range of individually unique and irreplaceable specimens in the State context. This includes specimens that have high scientific value, such as those that represent unique geoscientific data points (such as specific age-dated specimens), relatively rare rock type examples, or exceptional specimens that display important petrological or geological characteristics. There are also specimens from historic mines or engineering projects that are no longer accessible or have been destroyed, such as the Snowy Mountains Scheme hydroelectric tunnels.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The Petrology Collection is representative of the lithology and rock types of NSW. It contains examples of the full range and variety of rock types which are found across the State. This allows the collection to demonstrate the full breadth of the geological history of NSW, from the Paleoproterozoic, 1,700-1,600 million years ago, to the present.
Integrity/Intactness:	The Petrology Collection is highly intact and has good integrity.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		00973	02 Apr 99	27	1546

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Heritage & Conservation Register for Department of Mineral Resources	1994		(not stated)		No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written	C. S. Wilkinson	1888	Geological Survey of NSW: Report of Progress for 1887 by the Geological Surveyor in charge
Written	E. C. Andrews	1926	Annual Report of the Government Geologist
Written	Edward F. Pittman	1912	Annual Report of the Government Geologist: Geological Survey of NSW
Written	Edward F. Pittman	1902	Annual Report of the Government Geologist
Written	Edward F. Pittman	1897	Geological Survey of NSW: Progress Report for 1896 by The Government Geologist
Written	Edward F. Pittman	1894	Geological Survey of NSW: Progress Report for 1893 by the Government Geologist
Written	Edward F. Pittman	1893	Progress Report of Geological Survey
Written	George W. Card	1900	Annual Report of the Curator and Mineralogist
Written	George W. Card	1899	Appendix (1899a)
Written	George W. Card	1899	Curator's Annual Report
Written	George W. Card	1898	Annual Report of the Curator and Mineralogist
Written	George W. Card	1897	Progress Report of the Curator and Mineralogist
Written	George W. Card	1896	Progress Report of the Curator and Mineralogist
Written	George W. Card	1895	Progress Report of the Curator
Written	George W. Card	1894	Progress report of the Curator and Mineralogist
Written	Joseph E. Carne	1899	Appendix 11
Written	Joseph E. Carne	1898	Appendix 9: Notes on the Geology and Auriferous Deposits of the Wolumia Gold-field
Written	Joseph E. Carne	1897	Progress Report for Mr. J. E. Carne for 1896
Written	Joseph E. Carne	1896	Progress Report of Mr J. E. Carne, F.G.S., Geological Surveyor
Written	L. F. Harper	1928	Annual Report of the Acting Government Geologist
Written	L. M. Barron	1992	Historic and Scientific Documentation of a One Hundred Year Old Rock Collection, Now Supported by a Computer Catalogue Database [1992b]
Written	L. M. Barron	1992	An Abbrieviated Catalogue for the Petrology Collection T1-53000: Volume 1 of 2: Catalogue [1992a]
Written	L. M. Barron	1991	The Catalogue for the Old Rock Collection (1880-1912)
Written	L. M. Barron	1990	Historical List of the Names of Contributors of Rocks to the Petrology Collection (1888-1990)
Written	L. M. Barron	1989	The Status of the Petrology Catalogue to end 1988
Written	L. M. Barron	1979	The Proposed Structure of the Petrology Collection Pilot Index, Preliminary Report 1 on Project S58
Written	L. M. Barron and Zhenghua Bai	1986	FELIX: An HP-Basic Data Base for a Petrology Collection
Written	Paul Meszaros (former GSNSW Collections Manager)	2025	Personal Communication - 5-20 November 2025
Written	Phillip Black	1985	Geological and Mining Museum Storage and Retrieval System for the Economic Minerals and Miscellaneous Specimens Collection
Written	T. W. Edgeworth David	1891	Progress Report for 1890 by Geological Surveyor T. W. E. David, with Appendices
Written	T. W. Edgeworth David	1887	Progress Report by T. W. E. David, B.A., F.G.S., Geological Surveyor
Written	T. W. Edgeworth David	1886	Description of Rock Specimens from Norfolk and Phillip Islands, microscopically examined by T. W. E. David, B.A., F.G.S., Geological Surveyor

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5014133
File number:	S95/00340/1; EF14/5172

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