Virtual CollectionMain MenuThe Brock University Earth Sciences Virtual Collectionrocks, minerals, and fossils in a digital format.IndexHow to get to where you're goingERSC 3P90Index of samples for ERSC 3P90 LabsERSC 1P01 Mineral Sample image IndexDirections to the pictures of images for first-year Earth Science classesERSC1P01 Igneous Sample IndexIndex of igneous samples for first-year labsERSC1P01 Metamorphic Sample IndexIndex of metamorphic samples for first-year labsERSC 1P01 FossilsERSC Misc Rock Samples (unnamed)Whole rock sample imageryIgneous Rock samplesA place to explore rocks that have crystallized from molten materialVolcanic SamplesVolcanic samplesMeteoritesSedimentology Sample IndexAccess to sedimentology sample imageryMineralogy Quick Quiz PicturesA smattering of samples from the mineralogy collection to test your ability to recognize samples visually.A small collection of polished thin section viewsA small collection of polished thin section viewsRick Cheel4c2cab10f340dae1a53f5b584acd3f5528e40a41Mariek Schmidt3b678a5bd42eb8bf9a55fb761e5f17b11ce872c1Justin Pentescoe1b177acadc784b8497de179c36bc8e98f92c5e3Jordyn Schumacher063e6b5cd9d78fa0c5456d90b29abfa4f185e97cFrank Fuetendee05431475b87c68ebf15bbea4bfeac11808e9eAstride Silis79b69046c55b5f6cbc0bffd051aa83b3482e29a8
Xenolith in basalt
12020-06-11T14:59:14+00:00Justin Pentescoe1b177acadc784b8497de179c36bc8e98f92c5e3191inclusion of olivine and pyroxene in a basalt sampleplain2020-06-11T14:59:14+00:00J.T. PentescoJustin Pentescoe1b177acadc784b8497de179c36bc8e98f92c5e3
The most basic samples commonly occurring on Earth are basalts.
Frequently basalts erupt and solidify before they can release gases. This results in vesicles (gas pockets) being trapped in the solid material as seen below.
This is a sample that has inclusions of mantle material presenting as dunite inclusions (xenoliths) in a matrix of vesicular basalt.
