Physical Collections

State repository

As a state repository for geologic samples and geological data, the IGWS collects, curates, and archives materials to support the mitigation of geologic hazards and the wise stewardship of Indiana's energy, mineral, and water resources. Our physical collections support active research on climate, water availability, carbon sequestration, critical minerals, industrial minerals, and hazards mitigation.

Temporary Core Repository  Records Center  Core Reboxing Dashbaord

• Bedrock core collection: Approximately 35,000 boxes of rock core, as well as associated rock chip sets and lithologic strips
• Bruce Masters Mineral Collection: Exhibition-quality specimens of rare and exotic minerals from across the world donated by Bruce Masters, Ph.D
• Education collection: More than 2,500 rock, mineral, and fossil specimens for non-professional study and hands-on exploration. Specimens from the education collection are on display in the Learning Lab.
• Historic coal mine archive: Reports, maps, and publications about Indiana coal mining and geology
• Historic field map collection: Work maps and original publications dating to the late 19th century
• Historic field notebook collection: Field notebooks and original publications dating to the late 19th century
• Image collection: Film, prints, illustrations, and digital files concerning Indiana geological research in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries
• Indiana Limestone Company Photograph Collection: More than 25,000 black-and-white architectural photographs of buildings constructed of Indiana limestone. This collection is on a long-term loan from the Indiana Limestone Company, now Polycore, Inc.
• Industrial minerals collection: Dimension stone, coal, and aggregate samples and associated data from Indiana and the central United States
• Malott Speleothem Collection: Stalagmite, stalactite, flowstone, and other cave formation specimens collected by Clyde Malott, Ph.D., in the early 20th century
• Patton Building Stone Collection: Building stone and brick specimens collected by John Patton, Ph.D., Indiana's 13th state geologist
• Petroleum records archive: Geophysical well logs and reports concerning Indiana petroleum production
• Publications archive: Maps, reports, and circulars published by the Indiana Geological and Water Survey and its predecessors before 2019
• Rexroad Conodont Collection: Hundreds of thousands of microfossil specimens, primarily the result of 40 years of research by Carl Rexroad, Ph.D. In October of 2025, IGWS transferred this collection to IU Paleontology.
• Unconsolidated core collection: Unconsolidated sediment cores, optically-stimulated luminescence (OSL) samples, and vibracore peels