Geological Collections

Despite its relatively small size the Dudley geological collection is one of the finest collections of local material in existence, matched by only three other institutions, Birmingham University, the Natural History Museum in London & the British Geological Survey at Nottingham.

 

However, Dudley's collection is growing in quantity, quality & scientific integrity & as a result of the activities of local collectors & enthusiasts & is set to become the most important collection of these fossils in the world.

 

Its main strength is its definitive assemblage of ancient (circa 425 million years old) marine invertebrate fossils from the local Silurian (Wenlock and Ludlow) rocks, notably the superbly preserved corals, trilobites and crinoids from the Wenlock Limestone for which the area is world renowned. The local trilobite Calymeme Blumenbachii (the 'Dudley Bug') is so famous that it is considered by much of the international scientific community as the emblem of the town and used to occupy the very centre of Dudley's Coat of Arms. There is also a sizeable collection of flora and rare fauna (in particular rare insects and spiders) from the Black Country Coal Measures, notably in ironstone nodules from Coseley.

 

Most significantly the collection contains twenty type and figured specimens, which are priceless to science. In addition to these, three species that are new to science have been discovered in the collections in the last two years and there are likely to be others found as additional research on the collection occurs.

 

A backlog of perhaps 5000 specimens has yet to be formally catalogued and accessioned. Detailed research is required to re-identify/upgrade nomenclature and determine a more specific scientific provenance for much of the original collection (i.e. which bed of rock or specific site a piece came from).