This website houses photographs and descriptions of the specimens found in the 1A (first year) Reference Series at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge. This series is a collection of rocks, minerals and fossils used to aid the first year Earth Sciences students in their practical revision. It is not an exhaustive collection, but includes the range of specimens with which the first year students should become familiar.

Members of the Department of Earth Sciences are encouraged to use this resource in conjunction with the practical specimens themselves. These are housed in the first year teaching laboratory. There is no substitute for actually handling the specimens!

We hope that this website is also useful to members of the public.