Discuss these questions in groups. Try and arrive at a consensus decision for each.

1. Why is the rock core cut in half?
2. Why is one half archived (held in storage)?
3. How do scientists know which end of a core is the top end?
4. Would the core change after it is brought to the surface?
5. How might the cores be transported?
6. How are the rock cores dated?
7. How do scientists study the cores?
8. Who gets to read about the scientific results?

http://www.icair.iac.org.nz/science/roberts/