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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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BYO: Build Your Own rock kits

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Too often I have seen ‘complete’ rock kits for sale that either have too many different samples or not enough.  To make matters worse the samples are too small and too easily lost or broken or just not big enough to see the detail you need to teach from.

Then there is the problem of replacement parts of the kits.  Usually you have to buy another whole kit just to replace a few pieces that are missing here and there.

Enter ROCKHOUNDZ  and the BYO Rock Kit.  Don’t reinvent the wheel preparing teaching material to suit a kit that someone else put together for you.  BYO – Build Your Own kit that suits the content you have prepared for the classroom.  If you lose a piece just replace that piece.  If you want to add a piece then add just that piece.

And you can buy from Rockhoundz knowing that we can tell you what you need to know to add to your content – where did it come from?  how old is it?  These are the specialised details that we include with your samples to help you in the classroom.

And just like with the obsidian – if you send us a special request we will be like a dog at a bone until we dig up a decent sample for you.
See you round the ridges,
Angus