Diamictite (NHMW-Geo 2022/0050/0001)

3D Model

The Diamictite is an Ice Age moraine rock, that is 650 million years old. The climate on Earth has been subject to great fluctuations – there have been hot periods with no ice and cold periods with glaciers across the globe. The planet has turned into a ′Snowball Earth′ on two occasions: once 2.4 billion years ago and again during a series of ice ages between 710 and 640 million years ago. During these periods the glaciers stretched all the way to the Equator and large parts of the oceans froze over.

This rock is on display in Hall 6 of the NHM Vienna.

Specimen: Diamictite (NHMW-Geo 2022/0050/0001)

Collection: Natural History Museum Vienna, Geology & Paleontology Dept. (curator: Mathias Harzhauser)

Origin: Ghaub Nature Reserve, Otavi Mountainland, Namibia

Donated by Joachim & Caroline Rust, Namibia

Find out more about the NHMW here.

Scanned and edited by Viola Winkler & Anna Haider (NHMW)

Scanner: Artec Leo. Infrastructure funded by the FFG.