Geology Specimens FAQs
How does WARD'S obtain its geology specimen materials?
Given the growing concern for preservation of our natural resources, does WARD'S have a procurement policy in place to insure its specimen materials comply with all Federal, State, and Local regulations governing specimen collecting?
I recently ordered some student-sized mineral specimens from WARD'S that didn't all show the features I was looking for. How do I obtain replacements for those samples not meeting my needs?
I've used WARD'S specimen products for years, but I recently ordered some replacement specimens for my teaching sets and noticed they were different from those I previously obtained from WARD'S. Why is that? Can I get specimens to match the old ones in my set?
I've lost the identification key to a collection I purchased from WARD'S some time ago. How do I get a replacement key to match my set?
I'm looking for some specimen materials that I don't see listed in your catalog. Do you have access to other materials not listed?
I have access to local collecting areas for some excellent mineral, rock, and fossil samples. Does WARD'S ever purchase specimens from individual collectors?
I see that WARD'S offers a line of standard petrographic thin sections. I have some of my own rock samples that I would like to make thin sections from. Does WARD'S offer a custom thin sectioning service?
WARD'S seems to carry a wide variety of rock, mineral, and fossil collections, but I have a very specific set of materials in mind for a class I'm teaching. Can WARD'S make a custom collection tailored to meet my needs?
How does WARD'S process their rock and mineral samples?
What information does WARD'S provide with their specimens?
What specimen sizes are available for standard rocks and minerals?
How does WARD'S package their specimen products?
Does WARD'S carry minerals of high purity suitable for research needs?
Does WARD'S provide XRD or other elemental analysis for their research minerals?
I'm new at teaching earth science. Do WARD'S specimen products provide me with some direction on how to make the best use of these materials in the classroom?
I've shopped around, and I've noticed that while WARD'S prices are generally competitive on specimen products, I sometimes find things a bit cheaper from some smaller rock shops. Why is that?
How does WARD'S obtain its geology specimen materials?
Acquiring natural materials, like rocks, minerals, and fossils, is probably one of the most challenging activities for companies like WARD'S. Since these are naturally occurring materials, you can't simply go out and "manufacture" more when you need them. Our geology buyers rely on hundreds of different sources to bring you the specimen products you need for teaching, research, or display. These sources include dealing directly with mine and quarry operators, individual collectors, rock shops and commercial dealers, college geology clubs, and industrial materials companies.
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Given the growing concern for preservation of our natural resources, does WARD'S have a procurement policy in place to insure its specimen materials comply with all Federal, State, and Local regulations governing specimen collecting?
Since 1862, WARD'S has provided professional analysis, classification, processing, and assembly of geological specimen materials as part of our service to the teaching and research needs of the scientific community. As a recognized leader in the Earth Sciences, it is the policy of WARD'S that all specimen materials shall be obtained in a legal, responsible, and professional manner, and in compliance with all applicable International, Federal, State, and Local regulations. In addition to our efforts to meet the needs of educators and researchers, we are also dedicated to preserving the ecological integrity of the collecting landscape and to ensuring that these valuable educational resources are preserved and made available for future generations.
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I recently ordered some student-sized mineral specimens from WARD'S that didn't all show the features I was looking for. How do I obtain replacements for those samples not meeting my needs?
Because we are dealing with natural raw materials, not every piece will show "textbook" features like perfect cleavage, visible striations, or a preferred color, especially in smaller samples. Many of these characteristics are dependent upon factors that cannot always be controlled in processing natural raw materials. However, WARD'S Geology Staff works very hard to bring you the very best specimen materials the world has to offer. We are also happy to work with you to provide you with the specific specimens that will best meet your needs. If you are dissatisfied with a purchase for any reason, we encourage you to contact our Customer Service Department. Our Customer Service representative can quickly assess the problem and put you in touch with one of our professional geologists who can assist you in meeting your technical needs. WARD'S is the only company in our industry to provide customers with this level of personalized professional service and technical support.
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I've used WARD'S specimen products for years, but I recently ordered some replacement specimens for my teaching sets and noticed they were different from those I previously obtained from WARD'S. Why is that? Can I get specimens to match the old ones in my set?
Over time, many specimen localities are depleted, mines are closed, or access to collecting sites is restricted. We at WARD'S work very hard to bring you the finest, most consistent specimen materials available today. However, sometimes sources change due to circumstances beyond our control. If you are trying to match earlier samples you may have purchased, please call us and we will do our best to meet your needs or offer you a reasonable alternative.
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I've lost the identification key to a collection I purchased from WARD'S some time ago. How do I get a replacement key to match my set?
Because the specific samples used in an individual collection can vary from one production run to another due to changes in availability, it's important to know the approximate date the collection was purchased. WARD'S Geology Department maintains a working master file of all collection lists dating back almost 30 years. In recent years, you will find a date code on the printed box label affixed to the side of most collection boxes. This will provide us with the information we need to determine the exact production run during which your product was made. We can then match this information with the listings in our files to send you the appropriate replacement key. There is no charge for this service.
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I'm looking for some specimen materials that I don't see listed in your catalog. Do you have access to other materials not listed?
WARD'S has one of the most extensive inventories of geological materials in the industry, including a variety of specimens you won't find listed in our catalogs. These include some materials used exclusively for production, or items which may only be available in limited supply for research, exhibition, or other special needs. If you have a specific geological material you are searching for, give us a call. Chances are we have it, or we can give you some suggestions on where you may find it.
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I have access to local collecting areas for some excellent mineral, rock, and fossil samples. Does WARD'S ever purchase specimens from individual collectors?
Yes, WARD'S relies on many local collectors to obtain raw materials from certain areas. If you have materials you think we may be interested in, please contact WARD'S Geology Department for details on how to become a WARD'S supplier.
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I see that WARD'S offers a line of standard petrographic thin sections. I have some of my own rock samples that I would like to make thin sections from. Does WARD'S offer a custom thin sectioning service?
Yes, WARD'S thin section laboratory is the first and only operating lab for standard thin section preparation in the education market. For over 40 years, WARD'S technicians have manufactured quality thin sections for teaching and petrographic study. If you have your own materials you would like prepared in standard applications, please call WARD'S Geology Department for a price quotation and delivery schedule.
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WARD'S seems to carry a wide variety of rock, mineral, and fossil collections, but I have a very specific set of materials in mind for a class I'm teaching. Can WARD'S make a custom collection tailored to meet my needs?
Yes, because WARD'S sources and processes all of its raw materials right on site, we can provide an unlimited variety of customized options to meet your needs. Simply call and let us know your requirements, and we can provide you with a price quotation and delivery schedule, usually within 24 hours.
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How does WARD'S process their rock and mineral samples?
As we receive shipments of rocks and minerals from around the globe, the materials are examined for quality, weighed, and stocked in large storage bins. Production orders are then issued to our technicians to individually cut specifically sized pieces on custom-made 50-ton hydraulic rock trimmers. Here is where we literally make little rocks out of big rocks, one at a time. Each student or larger lab sample is hand cut in this process and trimmed to the appropriate size. It is then placed in our parts stock as finished sized pieces. From here, the various stock pieces are pulled for packaging into individual Study Packs or to be used as a component in various teaching collections being assembled. WARD'S does not use bulk crushers to process these standard specimens, since we believe that individualized cutting provides greater control over uniformity in size and specimen quality. That's just another WARD'S commitment to quality that our customers have appreciated now for over 140 years.
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What information does WARD'S provide with their specimens?
Nearly all WARD'S geology specimens include a label with specific names and locality information. Fossil specimens also include age and relevant stratigraphic data where available. In addition, all of WARD'S standard Mineral and Rock Study Packs include a printed Key Card that details important information regarding the physical properties, occurrence, and uses for the specimen type ordered. This is a WARD'S exclusive. More info...
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What specimen sizes are available for standard rocks and minerals?
For most standard teaching materials (Study Packs), WARD'S offers four standard packaging sizes. These include Bulk Packs (one kilogram rough), Student Specimens (packages of ten samples, average 1" x 1" to 1" x 2"), Hand Specimens (individual samples, average 2" x 3" to 3" x 4"), and Testing Chips (package of 30 samples, average 1/2" to 3/4"). More info...
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How does WARD'S package their specimen products?
WARD'S uses only the finest packaging materials to house their teaching collections and specimen samples. Our collection boxes and trays are designed to provide the durability and strength required to store your specimens safely and securely for many years of use. To insure that your collection arrives in perfect condition, we individually poly bag samples which might mark up the tray during shipping, and also package most of our standard collection boxes inside cardboard dust covers to keep them clean during storage and shipping. Our individual rock and mineral Study Packs come packed in heavy duty white corrugated boxes for easy shelf placement and classroom storage. We value the content and appearance of our products, and we believe our customers do too.
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Does WARD'S carry minerals of high purity suitable for research needs?
Yes, WARD'S offers a listing of over 60 commonly requested research minerals and clays, plus hundreds of other materials not listed as standard catalog items. The research listing offers materials in a variety of forms. Typically these include materials in relatively pure grains or cleavages averaging 1/16" to 3/16" in size and sold in 10 gram packages. We invite your specific requests for materials not listed. More info...
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Does WARD'S provide XRD or other elemental analysis for their research minerals?
No, unfortunately we do not have the sophisticated equipment to provide such analyses. Rather, specimen materials are selected and graded for relative purity based on their homogeneity and other visible properties. Since actual composition can vary slightly from sample to sample, most researchers prefer to run their own analyses to verify exact composition and purity for the specific materials they are using.
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I'm new at teaching earth science. Do WARD'S specimen products provide me with some direction on how to make the best use of these materials in the classroom?
WARD'S offers a wide variety of products for every teaching level and need. Some collections are designed for student self-discovery and cooperative learning; others offer economical kits with simple keyed lists to common rock, mineral, or fossil types; still others provide comprehensive learning objectives, diversified assessments, background information, and hands-on activities for students. Even our individual rock and mineral Study Packs include a Key Card with valuable information on each sample. When you need to teach students the fundamentals of rock, mineral, and fossil identification, no one offers you more choices and ingredients for success than WARD'S.
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I've shopped around, and I've noticed that while WARD'S prices are generally competitive on specimen products, I sometimes find things a bit cheaper from some smaller rock shops. Why is that?
There's no one single answer to that question. Each customer must decide for themselves what they value most from a supplier. Even though both suppliers carry a listing for "Malachite" (for example), is the quality equivalent? Is the sizing consistent? Can I call and speak to a knowledgeable person at the company if I have a problem? Will the company accept returns? Can the supplier answer all my product needs, not just on a single discounted item? Is the supplier willing to work with me to insure the product meets my expectations? Will the supplier be there in the future when I need more material? When you deal with WARD'S, the answer to all of these questions and more is an unequivocal "YES"! We work extremely hard to bring you the very best materials and values available in the specimen market today. You may sometimes find what appears to be a lower priced alternative, but our loyal customers know that true value is more than simply price. Let us show you what the WARD'S difference is all about.
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