Kyanite, also known as disthene or cyanite, is an aluminium silicate mineral found in metamorphic pegmatites and sedimentary rocks. It typically forms sprays of bladed crystals, and is often blue in colour, though can be found in white or light green. Image by Greg Milner. #MineralMonday

#OnThisDay Charles Lapworth was born, one of the most influential geologists of the late 19th & 20th centuries. We have an event on 6 Oct relating to Lapworth's work, all about peculiar palaeontology! Join us & see how science has evolved since 1900. Book your free place: peculiar-palaeontolo...

Arachnida is the class of arthropods famously containing spiders and scorpions, alongside ticks, mites, pseudoscorpions, harvesters, and solifuges. Fossils in the arachnid order Uraraneida have been dated as old as the Devonian, approximately 387 million years ago! Image by Greg Milner.

Dogs were not always by our side, but there is some evidence that domestication occurred simultaneously in different regions, with early dogs found in Germany and Siberia, both dated to 33,000 – 36,000 years old. Post by Elijah L. I. Wait.

Step back in time with us... to learn all about peculiar #palaentology! Hear from Prof. Lapworth himself on the weird and wonderful world of early 1900s palaeontology, then from modern-day experts on how science has evolved our understanding of fossils. 📅 Mon 6 Oct, 18:30 peculiar-palaeontolo...

Black Country-born John Shaw (1873–1948) constructed his prototype seismograph using anything he could get his hands on, from tin cans to old bicycle parts. This is Shaw’s own instrument, which he used in the seismic recording station at his home in West Bromwich. Image by Greg Milner.

This specimen represents Paleodictyon. They first appear in the geological record as far back as the Precambrian/Early Cambrian, and exist to this day. Despite efforts, scientists have been unable to identify which organism creates these enigmatic hexagonal structures. Post by Elijah L. I. Wait.

Put on The Wombats, this #ToothyTuesday we’re looking at Phascolomys, a giant wombat from the Pleistocene! Found in Australia, these incisors are similar to those of wombats today. They helped Phascolomys tear through tough plants, and continuously grew to combat wear. Post by Charley Pearson.

These specimens show Didymograptus murchisoni, graptolites collected from Abereiddy Bay in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Graptolites are incredibly useful as index fossils, and Abereiddy is a fantastic locality, I recommend a visit if you're in the area. Post by Elijah L. I. Wait.

Update to Museum opening times 🦖 Until Fri 29 Aug 2025 inclusive, Mon to Fri - 10:00 till 17:00 From Mon 1 Sept 2025 inclusive, Mon to Fri - 10:00 till 16:00 Sat and Sun opening times will not change - 12:00 till 17:00 as usual For more info: www.birmingham.ac.uk... #LapworthRocks

Terrible photo, but this is a late nineteenth-century educational model of Pareiasaurus, on display in the '125 years of research and education at the Lapworth Museum of Geology' exhibition at the @lapworthmuseum.bsky.social. Don't see many of those around.

For #FossilFriday, this cast shows just how big T. rex teeth would be, with the crown (the part you would be able to see) and its root (the part hidden inside the jaws). They are serrated and typically have an oval base, distinguishing them from Nanotyrannus teeth. Post by Charley Pearson.

#Throwback to 2019 when Mary Anning visited the Museum to talk about the fossils she'd found on the #Jurassic Coast in Dorset! Our final #FamilyFun event of the summer is next Weds 27 August, this time we explore the #fossils of the #WestMidlands. For more info: www.birmingham.ac.uk...

While they may be hard to see through all the other little bones, this week’s #ToothyTuesday is the jaws of a mole (along with the full skeleton)! Moles use their small, sharp teeth to not only grip onto slippery prey, but males also use them when fighting for territory. Post by Charley Pearson.

Please note the Museum will be closed on Monday 25th August 2025 due to the August Bank Holiday. Normal opening hours will resume on Tuesday 26th August 2025. We hope everyone enjoys their Bank Holiday!

This strange object is actually a belemnite phragmocone. Belemnites are an extinct group of cephalopods that lived for ~135 million years, during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. Phragmocones would have been used to regulate the creature’s buoyancy, like modern cuttlefish! Post by Charley Pearson.

Look at this amazing Paleochiropteryx tupaidon cast, a species of Eocene bat! The elongated phalanges, present in all bats, form the wing, along with the patagium. The patagium is visible here, and the two different placements show how the wing attaches to the fingers. Post by Charley Pearson.

This Acheulean handaxe was collected in Sturry, Kent. This style tool is the longest used tool in human history, with the oldest dating to 1.6-1.75 million years ago. These tools are unusually common, leading academics to suggest they played a role in sexual selection. Post by Elijah L. I. Wait.

Did you know a genus of #dinosaur, Stellasaurus, was named after Starman by David Bowie? ⭐ Speaking of #DavidBowie, we are excited to have the Major Toms perform a tribute to Bowie at the Museum on Thurs 20 Nov! Grab the last few early bird tickets: themajortoms-lapwort...#dinosaur,#DavidBowie,#WhatsNewWednesday

What can we learn about the composition of our Earth? What are tectonic plates? Find out in our learning sessions, available for primary and secondary schools: ow.ly/UPi350WBbc3 #TectonicTuesday #LapworthRocks #learning #schools #geology

Are you set to explore the campus like never before? Final free tickets available, get them now! Tue 12 Aug - ow.ly/JuaF50WtNcu #LapworthRocks #geologyrocks #walking #nature #event #geology #history

Happy #MolluscMonday! This Trochus nigropunctatus gastropod is a species of sea snail, and comes from our Holcroft collection. Have you been to the beach this year? Did you find any seashells? #LapworthRocks #MolluskMonday #fossils #fossil #museum #geology #shell #palaeo #palaeontology

Some photos this #FossilFriday from the Family Fun Day I hosted at @lapworthmuseum.bsky.social on Wednesday!!!! It was such an amazing day!!! Hundreds of people, plenty of plants, and Rory dressing up all fancy for the occasion!!! #paleontology #paleobotany #plants #scicomm #botany #MuseumSelfie

Eophrynus prestvicii, the Coseley Spider, is an extremely well-preserved, 300-million-year-old #arachnid discovered near Dudley. Though it looks like modern #spiders, it was unable to spin a web, instead catching prey using powerful jaws! #FossilFriday #LapworthRocks #geology #palaeontology

Roman pottery, Jurassic trees, a mine shaft? Learn all about the iconic University grounds in our campus geowalks. Free tickets are nearly gone, be sure to grab one so you don't miss out! Tue 12 Aug - ow.ly/JuaF50WtNcu #LapworthRocks #geologyrocks #walking #nature #event #geology #history

We are excited to announce the incredible Major Toms will be performing at the Lapworth Museum! Playing a tribute to #DavidBowie amongst #dinosaurs, this show is not one to be missed! 📅 Thurs 20 Nov, 7:30pm 🎫 Early bird tickets from £13.70 themajortoms-lapwort...#DavidBowie#dinosaurs,Artwork: Molly Pack

Eophrynus prestvicii, the Coseley Spider, is an extremely well-preserved, 300-million-year-old #arachnid discovered near Dudley. Though it looks like modern #spiders, it was unable to spin a web, instead catching prey using powerful jaws! #FossilFriday #LapworthRocks #geology #palaeontology

#Throwback to when Louise Kilbride and Mike Bethel performed an atmospheric tribute to the music of Joni Mitchell at the Museum. Keep an eye out for more #LiveAtTheLapworth performances this year! #LapworthRocks #ThrowbackThursday #museum #event #JoniMitchell #livemusic #Birmingham #whatson

This #WenlockWednesday, why not pay a visit to see our Silurian specimens? If you can't make it to the Museum in-person, you can explore the galleries from your own home using our Virtual Museum: www.thinglink.com/ca...#WenlockWednesday, #VirtualLapworth #LapworthRocks #fossils #geology #palaeontology #paleontology

Dalmanites myops can be found in the Much Wenlock Limestone. This little #trilobite specifically has been found with its posterior region upright and poking out of the rock, and the lack of a cephalon (head region) gives it a heart-shaped appearance! Post by Charley Pearson.

Can you be-leaf how pretty this moss agate looks? It seems there are leaves trapped inside, a result of either iron oxide or manganese inclusions forming within the small gaps of the quartz crystal lattice. These inclusions are known as ‘dendrites’, meaning ‘tree-like’. Post by Charley Pearson.

Our next #FamilyFunDay is on Weds 6 Aug where you can become a real palaeobotanist for the day! Draw #fossil plants with @palaeojules.bsky.social‬ and see specimens from our collections and from the University Herbarium at Winterbourne. For more info: www.birmingham.ac.uk...#FamilyFunDay#fossil#FloraFriday

Luxullianite is a rare porphyritic granite, with striking clusters of acicular tourmaline #crystals. This rock is named after the Luxulyan village of Cornwall, where this specimen was found! #LapworthRocks #ThinSectionThursday #minerals #geology #geologyrocks #museum #igneous #metamorphic

Kicking off today is our first #FamilyFunDay! Be sure to head to the #Museum through #summer for more completely free prehistoric adventures with our team! 🖌️: Isabella Nugent, Julianne Kiely, Mark Bardsley, Ning-ning Li. #WhatsNewWednesday #FamilyFun #activities #SchoolHolidays #learning

There's still limited space available on our two campus geowalks, be sure to book fast! Book now: ow.ly/JuaF50WtNcu #LapworthRocks #geologyrocks #walking #event #geology #palaeontology #paleontology

These teeth belong to a leopard seal, predators from Antarctica and the only seal to feed on warm-blooded prey. This skull is from Humphreys' odontological oddities, which you can see on a public tour of our stores, next scheduled for Mon 4 Aug (12pm-1pm) - meet at reception. #ToothyTuesday

William Murdoch (1754–1839) was an associate of James Watt and Matthew Boulton at the Soho works in Birmingham, who pioneered gas lighting and invented a steam driven carriage. From 1779, he worked in the mines of Cornwall and collected many #minerals. #MineralMonday #LapworthRocks #geologyrocks

Information on field trips for #2025SVP #SVP2025 is making its way onto the SVP website - currently up are trips to Lapworth Museum & Middle Triassic of Warwickshire. Still to come: UK dinosaurs, Jurassic Coast & South Wales Triassic. vertpaleo.org/2025-field-t...

Protoichthyosaurus prostaxalis is an ichthyosaur from the Lower #Jurassic of England, first described by Appleby in 1979. The #Museum holds this unique 3D skull, though the related geographic and stratigraphic information have been lost to time. #FossilFriday #LapworthRocks #geology #palaeontology

Congratulations to the #Classof2025! We are excited to see several people who work with the Museum graduate from the University of Birmingham this year, including Lucy, our Visitor Services Assistant & collections volunteer, Tom & Lucy, our student exhibition curators, & Jake, our Learning Officer!

Protoichthyosaurus prostaxalis is an ichthyosaur from the Lower #Jurassic of England, first described by Appleby in 1979. The #Museum holds this unique 3D skull, though the related geographic and stratigraphic information have been lost to time. #FossilFriday #LapworthRocks #geology #palaeontology

Why not visit our new temporary exhibition this #ThrowbackThursday, curated by current #UniversityofBirmingham students? Learn all about how research and education centred around the Museum has evolved over the last 125 years. For more information: www.birmingham.ac.uk...#ThrowbackThursday,#UniversityofBirmingham#LapworthRocks

Visit sights both significant and strange and learn a thing or two about the rich #history of our iconic campus on this free tour provided by the Lapworth Museum of Geology! Book now: ow.ly/JuaF50WtNcu#history #LapworthRocks #geologyrocks #walking #event #geology #palaeontology #paleontology

Last #WhatsItWednesday we asked if you could identify this muntjac skull! Muntjac, also known as 'barking deer', are native to southern Asia. However, they were introduced to the UK in the late 19th century when the Duke of Bedford imported a group to our woodlands. #LapworthRocks #museum

Fun fact: The Earth's tectonic plates move about as fast as your fingernails grow! Another fact: Ben Miller once told jokes next to a lava lake! Now he’s bringing his stand-up show Volcano to Birmingham on Fri 12 Sept. Join us for a lively night out! lapworth-comedy.even... #TectonicTuesday

Bored of doing the same thing every Friday night? Want to try something new this autumn? Why not come to our first ever Comedy Night at the Museum headlined by Ben Miller, scientist-turned-comedian? 📅 Fri 12 Sept 🕠 17:30 (12+), 19:30 (18+) Book early bird tickets now: lapworth-comedy.even...

Sometimes the remains of seas from millions of years ago look as fresh as shells found yesterday... as seen by this beautiful slab of fossil gastropods and bivalves! #LapworthRocks #MolluscMonday #MolluskMonday #museum #geology #geologyrocks #palaeontology #palaeo #paleo #fossils #minerals

We’ve had quizzes, musical evenings, movie nights and even a quartet tribute to Taylor Swift, but this September we’re excited to be hosting our first ever comedy night, with scientist-turned-comedian Ben Miller headlining! Book your tickets now and don’t miss out! lapworth-comedy.even...

Interested in structural geology? Or maybe minerals are your mission? Our new shop includes dozens of affordable pre-loved books on a whole range of subjects, from faults to fossils! #LapworthRocks #FoldFriday #FaultFriday #FossilFriday #museum #geology #books #reading #library #education

Our new exhibition tells the story of 125 years of research and education centred around the Museum. Here students from Birmingham & Oxford work to uncover Britain's largest dinosaur trackway at Dewars Farm Quarry. Visit now to learn more: www.birmingham.ac.uk... Photo: Caroline Wood