Im not sure what the correct English term is for it, but this is what I do for my final paper on bachelor level in geology. A petrological and mineralogical study av so called Battle axes (also know as Boat axes or axes from Corded ware culture, around 2900-2300 BC). The geological value of this is of study is limited to me learning a lot of methods for mineral and petrological identification - on a level usually more often found on a masters degree. The archaeological value of this study is to helt determine possible connections between different parts of the neolithical Europe based on what type of rock these axes are made of.I wanna learn all there is to know about petrological and mineralogical studies, so this is as good as anything else + the cool archaeological part.

Most typical axes of this type are made of diabase or basalt, found in many places in Sweden. But the ones Im going to examine (with thin sections and so on) are made of dacite, a dacite not found here. So if theres anyone out there with knowledge of European dacite locations, please let me know.

One typical battle axe, made of diabase (I think - the white spots seems to be dusty/eroded dents and cavities, difficult to say for sure). And no, of course we dont do thin sections of nice whole samples like this, but rather of broken up parts.