Geological George - Education and Activities #geology around usGeological George - Education and Activities #geology around ushttps://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/tag/geology-around-usTue, 28 Apr 2026 17:28:49 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Australian Meteorite ]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/AustralianmeteoritesA short introduction to Australian Henbury Meteorites]]>

Meteroites from the Henbury Crater, Northern Territory

Guess what we have! We managed to secure a small number of Australian Henbury meteorites from an old collection. We will be releasing these soon-ish.

These meteorites are an Iron IIIAB, octahedrite (this refers to the internal crystal structure) meteorite consisting of 90% iron and 8% nickel.
Around 4700 years ago the meteorite broke up during entry with the fragments impacting in the Henbury Station in the Northern Territory, roughly 130km south of Alice Springs. The impact made 13-14 impact craters that range in size from approximately 7-180m in diameter. The impact then ejected meteorite fragments into the surrounding area. Significance of the site was realised in the 1930's when a survey of the site was conducted.

As the impact occurred during recent times it appears to have been witnessed, with Aboriginal traditions describing "… a fire debil-debil (evil spirit) came out of the sky and killed everything in the vicinity.". An impact of this scale would have indeed been devastating to anything in the area!
We often get people bringing in ironstone pisolites/nodules asking if they have found a meteorite. These can be mistaken for iron meteorites as they look similar, however the weight and surface texture is different between the two.
]]>Wed, 29 May 2024 11:48:12 +1000<![CDATA[Smokey Quartz....and more]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/Unusual-smokey-quartz-with-epidoteThese are intersting specimens we sourced from Shandong, China. They are smokey quartz crystals with elongate plagioclase crytals on a pink granite matrix. There is also a small amount of epidote crystals.]]>

We take a look at one of the Shandong crystal specimens

These are intersting specimens we sourced from Shandong, China. They are smokey quartz crystals with elongate plagioclase crytals on a pink granite matrix. There is also a small amount of epidote crystals.

]]>Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:43:36 +1100<![CDATA[Why does this Amethyst look weird?]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/unusual-amethyst-crystal-shapeThe crystals shape on this amethyst looks very unusual. Our Geologist George investigates why. Learn about crystals with a geologist!]]>

We investigate why the crystal structure of this amethyst looks weird

We take a geological look at why this amethyst looks a little...odd.

]]>Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:15:26 +1100<![CDATA[ lodolite calcite crystals with fluorite from Guizhou, China]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/Amazing-lodolite-calcite-crystals-with-fluorite-from-ChinaLearn about a mine direct mineral specimen. This amazing lodolite calcite crystals with fluorite from Guizhou, China]]>

Take a look at an unusual combination of crystals and minerals

This is one of the items we have up on the Thursday thread but wanted to talk about it as these are really interesting.
These came from Guizhou, in China, an area they were mining fluorite. These specimens do have some fluorite, however the defining feature is these amazing included calcite crystals. I haven't been able to determine what the inclusions are yet but they give the calcite a really cool lodolite effect. The matrix is a basalt with quartz veins. Vugs have a fine quartz Druze with scattered, mostly small, clear or green fluorite cubes. The calcite occurs as a secondary growth with crystals sitting on either the quartz/fluorite or directly on fractured basalt.

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]]>Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:06:28 +1100<![CDATA[Natural fracture?]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/natural-fractureGeorge investigates and unusual fracter in a jasper crystal sphere. Geologist at work!]]>

Wait, is this rock broken or what?

Nate came accross something weird in the spheres. Let's take a look ans see if this is a natural break and heal, or a load of glue!

]]>Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:50:20 +1000<![CDATA[Red Rock Gorge]]>https://www.geologicalgeorge.com/blogs/post/red-rock-gorgeA brief look at the geology at Red Rock Gorge in Sundown national park, Queensland Australia]]>

Geology of Red Rock Gorge, Queensland

On our travels we came across this wonderful piece of landscape where they used to mine tin. This is at Sundown NP, near Girraween NP and the track is a definite 4WD only experience! 

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