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~ Museums with Permanent Rock, Mineral, and Geologic Exhibits ~ In the USA: World Wide: Africa | Asia & Middle East | Australia | Canada | Europe | Virtual Museums Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum - Phoenix, AZ. There are over 3,000 minerals on exhibit. Highlighting the collection are the colorful minerals from Arizona’s copper mines. Exhibits of special interest encompass cases devoted to the lapidary arts featuring gemstones, carved semi-precious bowls and spheres, well-known Arizona specimen localities, and fluorescent minerals. The University of Arizona Mineral Museum - Tucson, AZ. Since its conception, the museum has accumulated over 16,000 mineral specimens in the main collection and over 6,000 in the micromount collection. The collection currently represents 1,431 different species with over 2,000 minerals presently on display. The mineral museum also has two displays of meteorites from localities around the world. ^ California State Mining and Mineral Museum - Mariposa, CA. this museum houses a collection that was started in 1865 in San Francisco. It is the official California State Mineral Collection, with over 13,000 minerals, rocks, gems historic artifacts and fossils. Recently returned in 2000 is the popular crystalline gold Fricot Nugget, weighing 201 ounces, the largest one found during the Gold Rush. Also reflective of days gone is a working scale model of a stamp mill, demonstrating the process of gold extraction Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County - Los Angeles, CA. More than 2,000 gem and mineral specimens are on view in the Gem and Mineral Hall. The hall features one of the largest gold exhibits in the world, that includes over 300 pounds of natural gold along with gold mining artifacts and other memorabilia. The walk-through Hixon Gem Vault houses such spectacular treasures as exquisite star rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Natural History Museum of San Diego - San Diego, CA. Permanent and temporary exhibits of earth and natural sciences and how they relate to the region. San Bernardino County Museum - Redlands, CA, The Division of Geological Sciences holds more than half a million fossils of extinct vertebrates and invertebrates, primarily from the southwestern United States with an emphasis on San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Mineral collections are from the southwest: California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Baja California, with a strong worldwide component for comparison. Santa Cruz City Museum of Natural History - Santa Cruz, CA ^ Denver Museum of Natural History - Denver, CO. Geology collections hold 34,000 specimens of most mineral species in the Rocky Mountains and others throughout the world. Meteorites and rocks also are represented. There is also 48,000 vertebrate fossils, including 54 primary type specimens 50,000 plant and invertebrate fossils, including more than 100 types and illustrated specimens along with other collections covering space sciences, Anthropology, and Zoology. Geology Museum, Colorado School of Mines - Golden, CO. Exhibits include minerals from Colorado, Colorado mining heritage and artifacts, gold and silver displays, gemstones - rough and cut, mineral properties, Earth history, special radioactive exhibits, world minerals, and fossils. ^ Peabody Museum of Natural History - New Haven, CT. Housed at Yale University the museum contains the Hall of Minerals, Earth and Space with historically important worldwide collection of approximately 35,000 specimens; the oldest collection of meteorites and tektites in the United States with thousands of specimens representing more than 400 different meteorite localities and nearly all of the various kinds of meteorites and tektites. ^ Mineralogical Museum, University of Delaware - Newark, Delaware. The mineral collection at the University of Delaware is an outstanding collection which numbers over 5,000 specimens many originating from a purchased a collection of 2,000 minerals from Tiffany jewelers by Irénée du Pont. ^ William Weinman Mineral Museum - Cartersville, GA. The mission of the Weinman Mineral Museum is to educate & inspire a diverse audience of students, enthusiasts & visitors about geology with an emphasis on Georgia, by providing unique experiences through exhibits, programs, special events & outreach in an engaging & fun environment. It houses the largest publicly available collection of Georgia gems, minerals, & fossils. ^ Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art - Elmhurst, IL.. The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art presents the beauty of stone in the form of art objects, mineral specimens, gems and gem materials. The museum displays over 233 pieces of jade and hard stone carvings. Other prime example of lapidary art are exhibited in the form of snuff bottles, modern and antique vases, bowls and other decorative accessories. Dioramas feature carved animals, fish and birds. Also included in the collection are excellent examples of Florentine and Roman stone mosaics, gemstone cameos and intaglios, a collection of gemstones and beautiful mineral specimens. ^ Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum - Marion, KY. Displays a portion of the lifelong collection of Ben E. Clement, one of the giants of Kentucky mining. ^ Harvard Mineral Museum - Boston, MA. The Harvard mineral collection now ranks among the world's finest due to its very broad representation, wealth of rare species, large number of specimens described in the scientific literature, and the quality of its display specimens. The systematic mineral collection and displays of rough and cut gemstones are the principal exhibits in the mineral gallery. The collections of rocks and ores and the Smith meteorite collection constitute an impressive sampling of the earth's crust. ^ A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum - Houghton, MI. The official Mineralogical Museum of Michigan with the finest collection of minerals from Michigan's famous copper and iron mining districts. Over 60,000 minerals in our possession, and over 20,000 of these minerals are displayed. ^ Montana Tech Mineral Museum - Butte, MT. A museum on the Montana Tech campus that exhibits more than 1,300 mineral specimens from a permanent collection of 15,000 specimens. ^ W. M. Keck Museum, Mackay School of Mines - Reno, NV. An outstanding collection of minerals, ores, fossil specimens and photographs, in addition to mining related relics. There is a special emphasis on early Nevada mining history with samples from famous mineral districts such as the Comstock Lode, Tonopah, and Goldfield. The museum is also home to some of the spectacular Mackay Silver Collection, created by Tiffany & Co., for John Mackay and completed in 1878. ^ Franklin Mineral Museum - Franklin, NJ. Over 4,000 mineral specimens on systematic display in the local room including those that are on display in the 32 foot long fluorescent display in the fluorescent room. The museum's fluorescent display has a dazzling array of the world's most brilliant and colorful fluorescent minerals. Welsh Hall houses a systematic collection of world-wide minerals, the largest, most comprehensive mineral collection on public display in the world. There is also a life size mine replica. Morris Museum - Morristown, NJ. The museum’s geological collection, considered one of the best in New Jersey, is home to numerous specimens from throughout the world, but has a focus on the state’s own mineralogical profile. In fact, the geological collection represents 100 percent of New Jersey’s minerals, including Franklin and Watchung Mountain materials. Sterling Hill Mining Museum - Ogdensburg, NJ. A world famous underground zinc mine in northwestern New Jersey open for tours and collecting. ^ New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources - Socorro, New Mexico. lies one of the great treasure troves of the southwest. Gold, silver, and precious gems, the objects of the Conquistador’s travels and travails, glitter on glass shelves next to other spectacular mineral forms. The main exhibit hall highlights minerals from around New Mexico with over two thousand mineral specimens. Top-quality mineral specimens from around the southwestern United States are also abundant in addition to pieces from around the world. Mining memorabilia, a modest fossil display, and a breathtaking ultraviolet-mineral exhibit are also found in the museum. ^ American Museum of Natural History -New York, NY. Home to the Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth with one of the most outstanding collections of geological specimens ever displayed and the Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites with cutting-edge hands-on exhibition space. The Museum is home to the world's largest collection of vertebrate fossils, totaling nearly one million specimens. More than 600 of these specimens, nearly 85 percent of which are real fossils as opposed to casts, are on view. New York State Museum - Albany, NY. Minerals of New York exhibit showcases a fraction of the State Museum's enormous mineral collection. Specimens on view represent over 150 years of private mineral collecting and from the public from the state's mines, quarries, road construction and outcrops. ^ Colburn Gem & Mineral Museum - Asheville, NC. The Museum's primary collection includes some 4,500 specimens from North Carolina and around the world. The Museum's gem collection includes over 1,000 cut gemstones from North Carolina and around the world. Other collections include Petrology, North Carolina minerals, fluorescent minerals, fossils, and crystals. Franklin Mineral Museum - Franklin, NC. Contains thousands of specimens of gems, minerals, fossils, Indian artifacts, fluorescent minerals, sea shells, and more on display. Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County - Hendersonville, NC. Exhibits include minerals of North Carolina, geodes, Cullinan diamond replicas, petrified wood, fossils and local Indian artifacts. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - Raleigh, NC. Approximately 7,500 mostly North Carolina specimens. Unusual specimens include meteorites, historic samples from gold mines that closed in the early 1900s, vein quartz and vein quartz with sulfide. The collection also includes specimens from historic corundum and monazite mining operations, as well as radioactive minerals from Spruce Pine, North Carolina. ^ Cleveland Museum of Natural History - Cleveland, OH. The Wade Gallery showcases a spectacular collection of more than 1500 gems and minerals along with other permanent and visiting exhibits. The museum specializes in collections that can't be found anywhere else in the world. ^ D.W. Correll Museum - Catoosa, OK. An extensive collection of rocks, gems, minerals and sea shells from around the world. ^ Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals - Hillsboro, OR. The Museum Collection includes an extensive variety of crystallized mineral species; world class specimens of common quartz and gypsum, colorful copper minerals, one of the two finest red rhodochrosite specimens in the world, rare and beautiful gem crystals of emerald, ruby, aquamarine, morganite, amethyst and thousands of other specimens from around the world. The collection also displays extraordinary lapidary works and examples of agate from locations throughout the Americas. ^ Carnegie Museum of Natural History - Pittsburgh, PA. The Benedum Hall of Geology is dedicated to interactive features that allow the public to learn about geology. The Hillman hall showcases more than 1,300 minerals and gems from all over the world. New acquisitions are added to the collection on an ongoing basis. This breathtaking exhibition hall also explains the basic facts of minerals, rocks, and crystals. Other permanent halls and exhibits dedicated to earth and life sciences. EMS Museum and Art Gallery - University Park, PA. The main gallery display includes displays of fine minerals such as azurite and "velvet" malachite from Bisbee, Arizona, and amazonite crystals from the Pikes' Peak, Colorado, area. In addition to collections of rocks, minerals, and fossils totaling more than 22,000 specimens, the Museum maintains collections of glasses, ceramics, metals, plastics, synthetic materials, old mining and scientific equipment, and archaeological artifacts. Many of these specimens are on display while the others are available for research and educational purposes ^ Bob Campbell Geology Museum - Clemson, SC. The museum's mineral collection consists of over 5,000 specimens along with a special collection that contains 2,000 of the approximately 3,000 different mineral species. You will also find spectacular fossils from all over the world; polished sections of several famous meteorites; and the best display of fluorescent minerals in the southeast. ^ National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame - Murdo, SD. The National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame was founded in 1987 to recognize excellence in the earth sciences by inducting one or more persons each year in six categories: Minerals, Fossils, Metalcraft, Lapidary, Education and Deceased. At this time we have 119 inductees representing 44 states. All of the inductees are experts in their fields. Many of them have published several books and most of them have been active in community service. ^ Houston Museum of Natural Science - Houston, TX. Special and permanent exhibits including the Weiss Energy Hall with the worlds most sophisticated energy exhibit; the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals with more than 750 crystallized mineral specimens; the Eby Hall of Minerals; and other natural science exhibits. ^ Utah Museum of Natural History - Salt Lake City, UT. The mineralogy and petrology collections consist of 3,700 mineral and 150 rock specimens from all over the world, as well as Utah, surrounding regions., and world famous locations. ^ James Madison University Mineral Museum - Harrisonburg, VA. The museum features over 500 crystals and gemstones from around the world composed of the following displays: Systematic Collection -arranged by chemistry and structure Locality Collections -Amelia, Va. and Elmwood, TN. Minerals of Virginia -Richard S. Mitchell Memorial Collection Large Specimen Display Fluorescent Display -minerals glow under ultra-violet light. ^ National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) - Washington, DC. Home to The National Gem and Mineral Collection, one of the greatest collections of its kind in the world. Over 375,000 individual specimens include such famous pieces as the Hope Diamond and the Star of Asia Sapphire, plus a research mineral collection in constant demand by scientists all over the world. The National Meteorite Collection is one the largest and one of the best museum-based collections of meteorites in the world. The National Rock and Ore Collections are divided into subcollections, and the specimens within each are indexed and retrievable by lithology, locality, museum catalog number, metal/commodity, or volcano. ^ Geology Museum of the University of Wisconsin - Madison - Madison, WI. From dinosaurs to dolomite, the museum contains a diverse collection of minerals, rocks, and fossils. Milwaukee Public Museum - Milwaukee, WI. A variety of permanent and temporary exhibits relating to all the earth sciences including "The Third Planet Hall" using the concept of plate tectonics as a central theme. Included is an award winning film introducing the basic concept of plate tectonics and then visitors ascend through a limestone cavern and learn what processes have shaped the earth's surface. The local geologic past of southeastern Wisconsin is depicted in the Silurian reef diorama and a walk-through glacier depicts another time in Wisconsin's geologic history. ^ Egyptian Geological Museum - Cairo, Egypt. Established and opened for public in 1904, as a part of the Egyptian Geological Survey (EGS) founded earlier in 1896. The museum introduces the Egyptian land and history to visitors. A large collections of Egyptian and other famous minerals, ores and rocks are in the show cases, In addition, a very valuable collection of meteorites picked from Egypt and from other places in the world, are displayed. ^ Asia & Middle East Geological Museum, Geological Survey of Japan - Tsukuba Science City, Japan. designed to introduce the results of the activities of the Survey through display of samples, models, panels etc., and to disseminate the fruits of geosciences to the public so that a glimpse of the interaction between man and earth could be caught. Geological Museum of the Hebrew University - Jerusalem, Israel. Founded in 1928, the Geological Museum includes collections of minerals, rocks and fossils. The core of the collections was provided by material gathered on geological excursions in Israel and abroad by the founders of the Department of Geology, Professors L. Picard, M. Avnimelech and Y. Bentor. Since then, staff members and students have added extensive material to these collections, which are also enriched by important donations from abroad and through exchange activities. ^ Australian Museum - Sydney, New South Wales. The Mineralogy, Petrology, Meteorite and Tektite Collection is a major natural history resource whose specimens represent localities no longer accessible, some of the best ever found from their locality, and some rank among the best ever found world-wide. Includes the Albert Chapman Mineral Collection and Listing of Australian fossil sites. Albert Kersten GeoCentre - Broken Hill, New South Wales. This interactive museum and interpretive centre displays the best of the Broken Hill city mineral collection. The GeoCentre uses the wonders of Broken Hill geology to explain Earth Sciences, especially mineralogy, metallurgy and geological time. The collection includes 1000 - 2000 mineral specimens. Several hundred mining social history artifacts. Crystal Caves Museum - Atherton Tablelands, North Queensland. The Crystal Caves is one of the most spectacular mineralogical museums in Australia. Explore a labyrinth of caves 250m² to discover & touch spectacular and colorful natural crystals, ancient fossils, and rare delicate minerals. Emmaville Mining Museum - Emmaville, New South Wales. Excellent local specimen display. Historic photographs of mines. Minerals Heritage Museum. - Brisbane, Queensland. Established with the aim of preserving and displaying fine mineral specimens, and especially those from Australian localities Mining Hall of Fame - Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Wander through the educational, interactive galleries and inspiring gardens featuring the past, present and future of the Australian Minerals Industry. Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory - Darwin, Northern Territory. The Geology collection includes collections of rocks, minerals, and meteorites and tektites. A major part of the rock collection consists of hand specimens of mid-Tertiary limestones from across northern Australia, and other specimens representing the geological history of northern Australia. Museum of Victoria - Victoria, New South Wales. The collections consist of the amalgamation of the States major geological collections, encompassing those of the National Museum, Industrial and Technological Museum, Geological Survey of Victoria and the University of Melbourne. Pinnacles Mine - Broken Hill, New South Wales. Mineral display, fossicking, tours and sales at this working mine. Riversleigh Fossil Centre - Riversleigh, Queensland - A World Heritage fossil locality. Includes the Hard Times Mine, a specially-constructed, underground mining experience, the Isa Experience Gallery, with its fascinating displays of the pre-historic, indigenous, social and mining history that has shaped Mount Isa and the region. World Heritage Riversleigh Fossil Centre is an integral part of Outback at Isa, where the region’s pre historic fossils are showcased at the fossil treatment laboratory and world-class displays. South Australian Museum - Adelaide, South Australia. Excellent South Australian and Australian mineral collection including mineral, rock and a collection of opal fossils. Sovereign Hill Gold Mining Museum - Ballarat, Victoria. Australia’s foremost outdoor museum – Sovereign Hill recreates Ballarat’s first ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851 when thousands of international fortune-hunters rushed to the Australian goldfields in search of riches. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery - Hobart, Tasmania. University of Queensland - Brisbane, Queensland. Museum display of world minerals and crystals. West Coast Pioneers Museum - Zeehan, Tasmania. Collection of local Crocoite, Cerussite etc and classic minerals as well as historic photographs. ^ Canadian Museum of Nature - Ottawa, Ontario. A comprehensive collections of vertebrate fossils, fossil plants, fossil pollen, fossil fungi, minerals, rocks and gems. Within our collections of 120,000 specimens, there are over 450 primary types. The vertebrate fossil collection contains more than 50,000 specimens, and includes a broad range of fauna from the Devonian to the Pleistocene. Royal Ontario Museum - Toronto, Ontario. Home to the Gallery of Earth Sciences In the Minerals Theatre, an audio-visual presentation of "Minerals in the Making: the Inside Story". Four crystal-like display cases present a rainbow of mineral specimens. Interactive activity bays to learn about colors, shapes, and classifications of minerals and gems. The reopened S.R. Perren Gem and Gold Room, where the ROM's collection of more than 1,000 beautiful gemstones and specimens are housed. Enter the dark, dramatic Minerals That Glow Room, to see how ordinary-looking rocks become glamorous under ultra-violet light. Pacific Mineral Museum - Vancouver, British Columbia. The Pacific Museum of the Earth is the result of the amalgamation of two pre-existing Museums: The M.Y. Williams Geological Museum and the Pacific Mineral Museum. Naturhistorishes Museum - Vienna, Austria. The significance of the Mineral Collection is the multiplicity of items coming from occurrences on the territory of the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and its alpine regions. Specimens from many of the "classical" deposits in Germany, Russia, England, Italy and other countries are also represented. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences - Brussels, Belgium. Dozens of permanent exhibits among which is the mineralogy room comprised of two separate parts. Designed to be instructive, the first part introduces the visitor to the fascinating world of minerals. A second part of the room concentrates on ranking minerals species by groups. Bulgarian National Museum of Natural History - Sofia, Bulgaria. The mineral and rock collections of the Museum comprise some 14 000 specimens or items from all over the world. The collections comprise four main elements: main collection, meteorites and meteorite casts, about 1500 rock samples, 40 gems and semi-precious stones. Moravian Museum - Brno, Czech Republic. A mineral exposition which makes it easier to understand the history Earth - physical and chemical qualities of minerals, the structure of the Earth and its place in the solar system. Main part of the exhibition is dedicated to the origin of the rocks and minerals - here you can admire the wonderful world of not-living nature of Moravia and Silesia. Geological Museum - Copenhagen, Denmark. The Geological Museum displays a wide range of geological phenomena. Try touching a meteorite. Learn about: Rocks and minerals, The Geology of Denmark, Salt in the Danish subsoil, The Geology of Greenland, earthquakes, volcanoes, dinosaurs, continental drift, meteorites, the Solar System and more.
•La
collection de Minéraux, Univ.P.M.Curie - Paris, France.
24 cases allow the visitor to view 2,000 specimens.
•Mineralogical
Museum, Bonn University - Bonn, Germany. Mineralogical Museum of Lavrion - Lavrion, Greece: In the Museum's showcases are exhibited approximately 700 samples of 115 different kinds of metals along with special showcases with gangue and other minerals and with samples of various crystals. Natural History Museum of Florence - Florence, Italy. The mineralogical collections, originating from the first half of the XVI century are the most important in Italy, and one the most widely known abroad, for historical and scientific value. The 45,000 specimens, the most important of which are the large geodes of amethyst, the topaz crystal, and the crystal of aquamarine. There are also specimens of quartz, calcite, tourmaline, gold and many precious stones and the meteorite collection. Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle - Luxembourg. With over15, 000 specimens covering systematic, regional, and African collections. There are also additional petrography and meteorite collections. Netherlands National Museum of Natural History - Leiden, Netherlands. Permanent and temporary exhibits featuring the earth, energy, and gemstones. Mineralogisches Museum Baia Mare - Baia Mare, Romania. Fersman Mineralogical Museum - Moscow, Russia. Contains 5 main collections: 90,000 items representing about 2,400 mineral species. More then 4,800 crystals of minerals representing all crystal systems and most of space groups; over 31,000 specimens representing genetic features, mineral association and ore types for more then 300 former Soviet Union; about 2,200 mineral specimens. representing different kinds pseudomorphs, and gem and stone art collection. Museum of the School of Mines of Madrid - Madrid, Spain. The Museum contains about 10,000 minerals, amongst which the most representative are: silver sulphosalts coming from Freiberg, Hiendelaencina (Spain), and mexican localities; mercury minerals (cinnabar, calomel, etc.) mainly from Almaden (Spain), fluorite, sphalerite and many others. Swedish Museum of Natural History - Stockholm, Sweden. The collections of the department reflect more than two hundred years of collecting activities. The mineral collection comprises some 140,000 catalogued specimens, 51% of which originate from Swedish deposits. The meteorite collection contains about one thousand specimens from 311 different meteorites. The topographical collection consists of 20,000, partly not yet catalogued minerals, rocks and ores.
•Natural
History Museum of Switzerlan - Bern, Switzerland. National Museums and Galleries of Wales - Cardiff, Wales, UK. The Department holds extensive collections and particular expertise in Paleontology, Petrology, and Mineralogy including collections of Welsh minerals with accompanying databases for mine sites. National Museums of Scotland - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Exhibit detailing how did Scotland come to be what and where it is? The exhibition then focuses on the last 650 million years of Scotland's story. The Natural History Museum London - London, England, UK. The Natural History Museum mineral collection is one of the most important and comprehensive collections of its type in the world with about 350,000 specimens. A rock collection that now consists of over 100,000 specimens and has worldwide coverage. Other collections include meteorites, ocean bottom, ores, gems, building and decorative stores, mantle xenoliths and kimberlites, and world wide petrological collections. Oxford University Museum of Natural History - Oxford, England, UK. The Mineral Collections comprise around 30,000 specimens from localities worldwide and represent at least 100,000 examples of mineral species. It also includes small collections of gemstones, meteorites, and mineralogical instruments, as well as important collections of decorative rocks. ~ Virtual Museums Featuring Online Geology Exhibits ~ The Hooper Virtual Natural History Museum - Hosted by Carleton University at Ottowa, Ontario, Canada: The Museum of Paleontology - Hosted by University of California at Berkeley The National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) |
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