Geological mapping - Palaeontology
The Palaeontologist (Dr Ian Percival) identifies fossils collected by regional mapping teams, in order to provide information to the field geologists on age and depositional environments of fossiliferous rocks. Laboratory preparation of rocks is undertaken to yield fossils. The main way this is achieved is through dissolution of limestones in acetic acid to provide microfossils (mainly conodonts) in the insoluble residues, and by preparation of thin sections of cherts and limestones to reveal fossils under the microscope. Macrofossils of all types are routinely studied by the palaeontologist and honorary research associates of the Department, with particular expertise in Early Palaeozoic brachiopods and nautiloid molluscs (Dr Ian Percival), corals and sponges (Dr John Pickett), and graptolites and trilobites (Dr Lawrence Sherwin).
The Palaeontological Collections (macrofossil and microfossil) are located at the Department's Londonderry Geoscience Centre at Londonderry in western Sydney. While predominantly comprising NSW fossils, they also include important type specimens and comparative material from interstate and overseas. The collections contain more than 45,000 catalogued specimens. Specimens can be made available for consultation and loan to approved research organisations. Although facilities at Londonderry do not allow for displays of representative material from the collections, some fossils are exhibited in the Department's Maitland headquarters.
To see recent palaeontological publications
Please contact ian.percival@dpi.nsw.gov.au for more information.