Polar Rock Repository

The Polar Rock Repository at Ohio State University is a national facility designed for the curatorial preservation and lending of rock samples from Polar Regions, along with associated materials such as field notes, annotated air photos and maps, raw analytic data, paleomagnetic cores, ground rock and mineral residues, thin sections, and microfossil mounts, microslides and residues. The facility was established by the Office of Polar Programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) to minimize redundant sample collecting, and also because the extreme cold and hazardous field conditions make field-work costly and difficult. Preservation of specimens from remote and rarely visited locations is a priority at the PRR. The PRR facility is unique in that terrestrial rock samples may easily be borrowed for research (including destructive techniques), exhibits or educational purposes.

Currently, the PRR has more than 27,000 cataloged rock samples available to scientists from around the world. The sample collection includes rock samples, unconsolidated material, dredges and terrestrial cores.

Researchers may access and request samples through the online website. Many aspects of the sample metadata are included on the website, e.g. geographical location, sample description, collector, rock age, formation, multimedia images as well structural data, field observations, logistics, surface features, etc. The repository and on-line database provide an essential resource for proposal preparation, pilot studies and other sample based research that should make fieldwork more efficient. This latter aspect should reduce the environmental impact of conducting research in sensitive Polar Regions.

The PRR added an online mapping interface to the Map Search function and a data download feature on the Detailed Search. The ‘Google like’ mapping feature allows searches based on location and multiple search terms. Users can see the Search Results plotted on a 15m resolution Landsat map and also have the search results metadata download into a CSV file.

Educators may borrow a “PRR Rock Box” containing ~40 representative rocks from the three main rock types, fossils and minerals plus books and activities about geology and Antarctica. The rock box is designed primarily for elementary and middle school use. Each teacher is provided with a survey form to provide feedback.