The Rock, Mineral, and Soil Collection at the Pedology and Geoecology Laboratory of the Department of Soil Science, Visayas State University, Baybay City, is a popular educational attraction for students in Eastern Visayas. It contains hundreds of specimens, including different types of rocks (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary), minerals (e.g. quartz, feldspar, calcite, amethyst, jade, jasper, mica, pyrite, etc), as well as sands and soils collected from different places in the Philippines and abroad. It is the only one of its kind in the Visayas and Mindanao.
In 2026, new additions to the collection include red sandstones from Utah (USA), peridotite and andesite rocks from Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte, and various mineral specimens donated by some alumni of the department.
Soil samples from across the Philippines are also on display. The collection is an essential resource for the teaching of soil science, agricultural science, environmental science, and earth science. Most soils (except peat soils) originate from weathered rocks, and the mineral composition of these rocks strongly affects soil properties and fertility. Rocks also serve as a source of nutrients that are gradually released into the soil through weathering.
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| A few of the many igneous rocks in the collection |
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| Some of the metamorphic rocks on the display in the collection |
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| Some samples of sedimentary rocks in the collection |
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Note: The Rock, Mineral, and Soil Collection was established and is maintained by Dr. V.B. Asio. For more information or if you want to visit it, please email him at: vbasio@vsu.edu.ph
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