Geology students from Solihull Sixth Form College have been investigating the rocks, minerals and fossils of the local area and beyond by visiting the UNESCO Black Country Global Geopark and the Lapworth Museum at the University of Birmingham.
During their visit to Wren’s Nest in Dudley, the students undertook a field investigation to research the geological history of the area from the time 428 million years ago when the area was covered by shallow tropical seas to the present day. They took field measurements of the rocks, collected fossils and examined evidence of the area’s mining history. Following the field visit they learnt more about the geological importance of the local area and its role in the industrial revolution by taking a tour on a canal boat along the Dudley canal tunnels.
At the Lapworth Museum, students had a guided tour of the museum and its stores and archives. They were given access to some of the most important and interesting specimens, including the ‘Dudley Bug’ fossil, a flexible sandstone and some valuable mineral specimens including gold and platinum. They also saw the original work of Professor Charles Lapworth, whom the museum is named after. After a tour of the University of Birmingham campus, the students spent the afternoon learning how to use microscopes to examine rocks in finer detail. The work completed on these visits will contribute towards the practical assessment required for the A Level Geology course.
Curriculum Leader for Humanities is Karen Graves. She commented:
“It was great to get out of the classroom and do some fieldwork, so that the students could bring their Geology studies into the real world. Both Wren’s Nest and Lapworth Museum provided excellent experiences for the students to develop their understanding of the course.”
14 July 2022