Thanks to funding from JISC the UK virtual microscope (UKVM) is now available on-line at https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/uk-virtual-microscope
It is an on-line interactive petrology teaching collection that contains about 100 samples of common igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. As well at interactive microscopy the website also contains interactive hand specimens.
Since building the UKVM, other collections have been added and the site is continuously being expanded. Our current work is funded by NASA and over a three year period we will be making virtual microscopes of nearly all samples brought back to Earth by the Apollo astronauts. We hope to have this 500-strong collection complete in time for the 50th anniversary of the first Apollo landing (July 20th 1969). Work on Apollo 11 to 15 is already complete and available on-line. Apollo 16 will follow shortly.
Our other Collections:
- Apollo – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/collections/apollo
- Martian Meteorites – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/martian-meteorites
- British and Irish Meteorites – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/british-irish-meteorites
- Europlanet Meteorites – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/europlanet-meteorites
- Charles Darwin: Voyage of the Beagle – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/charles-darwins-rocks
- GeoLab: Irish University Rocks – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/irish-university-rocks
- St Austell Granite – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/st-austell-granite
- Greenland – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/greenland
- Cornish Mineral Heritage – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/cornish-mineral-heritage
- Metalliferous Ores – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/metalliferous-ores
- Cabinet of Curiosities – https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/cabinet-curiosities
Further details are available from Mineralogical Society member, Andy Tindle (andytindle@macace.net) or Susanne Schwenzer (s.p.schwenzer@open.ac.uk)