3D Scans of Michigan Rocks and Fossils
The Michigan Geological Survey (MGS), through its repository, the Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education (MGRRE) is carrying out a project funded by the USGS National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Project (NGGDPP). Dr. William Harrison is the project director for this three-year project, begun in 2024, to:
MGS's Role
1) Preserve, curate, inventory and create 3D models for our collection of ~390 outcrop rocks and ~410 fossil samples. This collection represents all Lower Peninsula formations and all the major invertebrate fossil groups that they preserve. These samples are particularly valuable because thick glacial sediments cover bedrock formations in much of the area, making surface outcrops a rarity.
2) Add inventories to our MGRRE Web pages and to the Registry of Scientific Collections (ReSciColl), ScienceBase, and
(3) provide all digital images freely and publicly accessible online at MGRRE – Sketchfab.
Project Updates
To date, we have preserved, curated, inventoried and created 3D models for about 66% of our collection. Making these rocks and fossils accessible and discoverable will further research and fuel the imaginations for K-University students to inspire the next generation of geoscientists.
Scanned Collections consist of Historic MGS outcrop samples collected pre 1970, a collection of samples from the Michigan State Civilian Conservation Corps (1936). The largest non Michigan based collection housed at MGS/MGRRE was donated by Steve Wilson. This collection consist of many fossils and minerals from around the United States.