Part 3Natural science objects

Part 3—Natural science objects

3.1 This Part lists objects of the category “Natural science objects”. 3.2 An object is in this category if it: (a) is of significance to Australia; and (b) is an object of the kind mentioned in clause 3.4; and (c) is not adequately represented in public collections in Australia. 3.3 For the purposes of paragraph 3.2(c), an object of a kind well represented in public collections in Australia may nevertheless not be adequately represented because of the object’s quality or because of the place where the object was collected. 3.4 Objects in this category are Class B objects, and include: (a) any palaeontological object; and (b) any mineral object not otherwise mentioned in this clause having a current Australian market value of at least $10,000; and (c) any gold nugget having a current Australian market value of at least $250,000; and (d) any diamond or sapphire having a current Australian market value of at least $250,000; and (e) any opal having a current Australian market value of at least $100,000; and (f) any other gemstone having a current Australian market value of at least $25,000; and (g) any meteorite; and (h) any type specimen of present‑day flora or fauna, a palaeontological object or a mineral if: (i) the type specimen is not lodged in an overseas collecting institution; or (ii) a permit under Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is not in force for the type specimen. 3.5 In this Part:

holotype means the original specimen from which the description of a new species is made.

lectotype means a specimen selected as the type of a species or subspecies if the type was not designated by the author of the original description.

mineral includes a carving or sculpture created from any mineral, including a polished gemstone, but does not include any ore or concentrate used industrially or intended for industrial use.

neotype means a specimen chosen to act as a type material subsequent to a published original description if a holotype has been lost or destroyed.

palaeontological object means:

(a) a vertebrate or invertebrate fossil or plant fossil or a trace fossil specimen, not being a fossil fuel or fossiliferous rock used or intended for any use relating to industry; or
(b) a sculpture or other object made from fossiliferous or fossilised matter; or
(c) a precious or non‑precious opal replacement fossil of a vertebrate or invertebrate animal or of a plant.

paratype means a specimen other than a holotype, used at the time of original description, and designated as a paratype by the author of the original description, or clearly indicated as being one of the specimens on the basis of which the original description was made.