Category: Excursions

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Microfossils and Foraminifera at Cairn Science Mini-Conference 2015

Earlier this month we ran a couple of days workshops in Cairns with Miss Vivi from Dissection Connection.  Sadly the Hound had to stay behind but he did get a lovely holiday at the beach with his grandparents.

The final Rockhoundz workhsop on Tuesday afternoon was all about foraminifera and microfossils.  Here are a few images from our samples.  The first few are from our own exploration in the lab, the final ones were taken during the workhshop on the day.  Aren’t they beautiful!

During the workshop I mentioned a PDF booklet full of beautiful photos identifying the species of forams found on the reef.  It is available for download from the Reef & Rainforest Research Centre website here: Benthic Forams of the Great Barrier Reef

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8000 year old microfossils from North Queensland

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foraminiferous sand from Hervey Bay, QLD – see the foram in the top centre of the picture

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foraminiferous sand from Hervey Bay, QLD

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foraminiferous sand from Hervey Bay, QLD

foram from Hervey Bay sand at Rockhoundz

foraminiferous sand from Hervey Bay, QLD

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foram found in sample of foraminiferous sand from Hervey Bay, QLD during workshop in Cains June 2015

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foram found in sample of foraminiferous sand from Hervey Bay, QLD during workshop in Cains June 2015

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foram found in sample of foraminiferous sand from Hervey Bay, QLD during workshop in Cains June 2015

 

 

 

 

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Registration now OPEN – Science mini-conference in Cairns

Block out the 29 & 30 June on your calendar, check out the program and get registered because places are limited.

Cost includes meals, workshop notes and the opportunity to pick our brains at will for two whole days.  Usual cost for a single workshop by Dissection Connection or Rockhoundz is $30 per person so this represents excellent value for your professional development dollar.

All lab techs, teachers and sciencey people are welcome to join us.  We are hoping to see some Yr 7 teachers among the participants this year.  These workshops will also be useful to a parent who is home schooling so please share this with your networks so no-one misses out.

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The Western Victorian Volcanic Plains (or Newer Volcanic Province) Part 2

The Hound headed west from Sunbury and passed a memorial to Harry Houdini (near Plumpton), who conducted the first powered flight in Australia (a bit more about links to Harry later). After driving several hours more in the rain, we were in Hamilton and lodged at Murroa Station near the western limit of the plains and overlooked by Mt Napier which was the site of the most recent eruption some 7200 years ago. This is so recent that the sound it made-Murroa- has been passed down in local aboriginal spoken history, hence the name of the station.

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Mt Napier (M. Rowe)

One of the hounds (Skip) at Murroa and his master took us to see the scoria flow off Mt Napier. Now Skip has a special talent, apart from being a great sheep dog, he can slip his collar, no matter how tight it is. A bit of a Houdini character if you ask this Hound.

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Scoria flow to the right (west) from Mt Napier

In Part 3, The Hound heads back east to Organ Pipes National Park (but they wouldn’t let him in because he’s a dog).