Exhibition and Display
The Gardens presents an exhibition and display of natural forms of glass, curated by lapidarist and Gardens volunteer, Gillian Stewart.
Although most people think of glass as being an artificially made material, it is also found the natural world. Meteorite impacts melt silica in Earth’s crust that rains down as glassy pebbles called tektites. Lava, when cooled quickly, forms volcanic glass called obsidian.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have used obsidian and other natural forms of glass to make cutting tools for many thousands of years.
The items in the display include natural specimens as well as natural glass crafted for use in jewellery.
Small bags of mini specimens of tektites/impact glass varieties and obsidian varieties will be available (cost free) to attendees, as well as printouts of useful internet links and information about the displayed specimens.
Organiser
The Hunter Region Botanic Gardens is a not for profit organisation run by volunteers that showcases a wide variety of native and other plant communities in a 133-hectare bushland setting at Heatherbrae.