Once the first 23 rocks were gathered, the Geological Garden, as it was known, was officially opened by the Department of Earth Sciences on May 29th, 1987.
Below are the names and photos of some of the original 23 rocks, the rocks that started it all!
Jasper Conglomerate
Lorrain Quartzite
Matinenda Conglomerate
Gold Ore
Banded Iron-bearing Carbonate (siderite)
Banded Iron-bearing Carbonate (siderite)
Glacial Striae (scratches) on Lorrain Quartzite
Chalcopyrite
Nickel-copper Ore
Stromatolitic Marble
Amethyst and Granite Breccia
Granite from Vermilion Bay
Anorthosite
Banded Iron Formation (BIF)
The first collection trip was in the Sault Ste. Marie and Elliot Lake area, where 19 different rock samples were collected. Additional rocks were collected on a second trip that travelled in the area of Thunderbay, Timmins, Wawa, and all the way to Vermilion Bay! Below are the names of the rocks collected during these excursions:
- Jasper conglomerate from Sault Ste. Marie, ON
- Argillite from Gordon Lake, near Sault Ste Marie, ON
- Quartzite from Badgely Island and Sault Ste Marie, ON
- Anorthosite and iron ore from Wawa, ON
- Granite from Vermilion Bay, ON
- Stromatiolitic marble and amethyst breccia from Thunder Bay, ON
- Gowganda conglomerate from Elliot Lake, ON
- Glacial Striated quartzite from Desbarats, ON
- Jacobsville sandstone from Sault Ste. Marie, ON
- Gold ore from Helmo deposit from Timmins, ON
- Banded iron formation from Timiskaming, ON
Of the original 23 rocks, the most difficult one to find and collect was the Jasper Conglomerate. A crane, a truck, and a trailer drove down into the bottom of the quarry pit to load the huge rock onto the trailer. To their surprise, the sand at the bottom of the pit was incredibly soft and had trapped the fleet! From outside the pit, cable from a driller's truck was sent down and attached to the stuck trailer and crane. They were then attached to the quarry's front end loader, which pulled them all out and set them free!
Since then, the garden has blossomed with new donations every year - from mine owners, in memory of University of Waterloo students and staff, and to mark the 40th anniversary of the co-op program at Waterloo.