The Polar Rock Repository (or PRR) is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs and located within the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center - The Ohio State University. The PRR contains over 60,000 rock samples from Antarctica, the southern oceans, along with small collections from South America, Africa, and Australia. The PRR collection also includes field notes, maps, thin sections, as well as an extensive media archive.
Rock samples may be used for research by university scientists, as well as for educational or museum use in the United States. Visitors are welcome at the PRR by appointment.
Visit the PRR database to browse our collection.
Looking for a classroom activity that "rocks"? Polar Rock Boxes are freely loaned to educators and can be shipped to any US institution. The materials and resources within the box can be adapted for use at the elementary, middle, or high school level, as well as by Science Olympiad teams. Each box contains:
Approx. 45 samples per box (all 3 rock types, minerals, fossils, and some “other” samples common in Antarctica); teacher’s guide with background info/student activities; books about Antarctica, polar explorers, and general geology (for elementary school); hand-lens/magnifying glass; map of Antarctica; pre-paid return shipping label.
Polar Rock Boxes are freely provided (including shipping) as a month-long loan, but can be requested well in advance!
The Polar Rock Repository (or PRR) is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs and located within the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center - The Ohio State University. The PRR contains over 60,000 rock samples from Antarctica, the southern oceans, along with small collections from South America, Africa, and Australia. The PRR collection also includes field notes, maps, thin sections, as well as an extensive media archive.
Rock samples may be used for research by university scientists, as well as for educational or museum use in the United States. Visitors are welcome at the PRR by appointment.
Visit the PRR database to browse our collection.
Looking for a classroom activity that "rocks"? Polar Rock Boxes are freely loaned to educators and can be shipped to any US institution. The materials and resources within the box can be adapted for use at the elementary, middle, or high school level, as well as by Science Olympiad teams. Each box contains:
Approx. 45 samples per box (all 3 rock types, minerals, fossils, and some “other” samples common in Antarctica); teacher’s guide with background info/student activities; books about Antarctica, polar explorers, and general geology (for elementary school); hand-lens/magnifying glass; map of Antarctica; pre-paid return shipping label.
Polar Rock Boxes are freely provided (including shipping) as a month-long loan, but can be requested well in advance!
Featured Publications
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Antarctica as a ‘natural laboratory’ for the critical assessment of the archaeological validity of early stone tool sites, Cambridge University Press (2023)
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An embayment in the East Antarctic basement constrains the shape of the Rodinian continental margin, Nature Communications Earth & Environment (2022)
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Noble gas isotopes reveal degassing-derived eruptions at Deception Island (Antarctica): implications for the current high levels of volcanic activity, Nature Scientific Reports (2022)
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Subglacial precipitates record Antarctic ice sheet response to late Pleistocene millennial climate cycles, Nature Communications (2022)
- A large West Antarctic Ice Sheet explains early Neogene sea-level amplitude, Nature (2021)
More videos pertaining to the Polar Rock Repository can be found on the Byrd Center's Vimeo account.
Visit the Image Gallery: PRR celebrates 20 years!
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, under Award OPP-2137467.
DOI: https://doi.org/doi:10.7289/V5RF5S18
About the Polar Rock Repository
The Polar Rock Repository (PRR) is supported by the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs. The PRR contains over 60,000 rock samples from Antarctica and the southern oceans along with small collections from South America, Africa, and Australia. The PRR collection also includes field notes, maps, thin sections, as well as an extensive media archive.
Rock samples may be used for research by university scientists globally as well as for educational or museum use in the United States. Destructive techniques are allowed. We are happy to assist in finding samples and encourage users to reach out via email or schedule a virtual meeting to discuss the collection. Visitors are also welcome at the PRR by appointment.
DOI: https://doi.org/doi:10.7289/V5RF5S18
RRID:SCR_002212
Anne Grunow, Director and Senior Research Scientist
Erica Maletic, Curator
The Polar Rock Repository is associated with the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center at The Ohio State University. We currently welcome visitors by appointment only.
For researchers, please contact the Curator to schedule a visit.
For the general public, the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center offers regular events and encourages educational visits and tours. To schedule a tour or see a list of upcoming events, please visit byrd.osu.edu/engage
Address: 1090 Carmack Rd Columbus, OH 43210
Contact the Curator about other uncataloged collections or any other questions.