MUSEUM OF MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY

Ι. HISTORY

The collections of the Museum of Mineralogy and Petrology were created within the framework of the Physiographic Society, which was founded in 1835. The University included the collections in its premises from its foundation in 1837. In 1908, the University Museums of Mineralogy - Petrography, Paleontology - Geology, and Zoology and Botany were established and have been operating as independent branches since then. The Museum of Mineralogy and Petrology is administratively dependent on the Department of Mineralogy and Petrology.

In the years 1980 - 2000, the Museum remained inactive due to transfer and reconstitution. It reopened on February 7, 2000, under the direction of Professor Athanasios Katerinopoulos. Today the collections of the Museum's specimens are exhibited in an independent space within the building complex of the Department of Geology. It is not only the oldest mineralogical-petrographic collection in Greece but also a collection of international scope.

The importance of the collection is not only due to the presentation of particularly aesthetic specimens, but also to the abundance and quality of mineral specimens from "classic" sites of the then states of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the German Empire and Tsarist Russia, mainly from sites that are now exhausted and are known only from the literature. In the Museum's collections there are many specimens from the Mining Mountains (former Hungarian mining province) such as Schemnitz and Kremnitz, from Freiburg in Saxony, the Harz Mountains in Germany, Siebenbuergen in Romania (Nagyag, Banat, Felsobanya regions), the Ural mountains (Miask, Nishne Tagil, Achmatovsk, Mursinka regions) and Siberia (Nertschinsk region).

ΙΙ. DESCRIPTION

The exhibition of the Museum's collections takes place in three halls:

The first hall is decorated with seven modern crystal showcases, internally lit, in which are presented samples of highly aesthetic minerals, some of which are among the best of any kind. Explanatory texts provide information on relevant topics.

The first two showcases are dedicated to the minerals that come from the mines of Lavrio, one showcase contains metallic minerals from Greece and abroad, two showcases show carbonate and silicate (petrogenetic) minerals from Greece and abroad, while the last two showcases world-class specimens of minerals and gemstones from the former Soviet Union. These samples cover the largest range of minerals mined in the last century, mainly from the Ural region.

The second hall is mainly educational. Three built-in display cases present samples and explanatory texts for understanding the concept of minerals, rocks, ores and industrial minerals. Specimens are also on display to illustrate the physical properties of minerals such as transparency, hardness and color. Impressive specimens on rotating bases on twenty-eight specially shaped pedestals indicate the color variety of the minerals. At the back of the room, regions of Greece with particular interest for finding collectible mineral specimens are presented and representative specimens are exhibited. In the special showcase dedicated to meteorites, a sample of an iron meteorite from Argentina is on display. On the eastern side of the hall, a dark room has been set up to demonstrate the luminescence of minerals. This is one of the largest collections in Europe, highlighting the fluorescence and phosphorescence of minerals using UV lamps of various wavelengths.

In the third hall, the visitor encounters the heavy, wooden display cases of the 19th century. The walls are covered by tall upright display cases while inside the hall there are low inclined display cases where the systematic collection is located. The decoration of the second room is fully in harmony with the exhibits of the Museum, most of which date from the 19th century. Included are the systematic collection of minerals, gem collections, petrographic and mineralogical collections. The systematic collection of minerals provides the visitor with the opportunity to get to know the variety of minerals since approximately 2,500 samples representing more than 700 types of minerals are exhibited, classified on a modern basis.

The visitor must allocate several hours to get to know the wealth of minerals that the Museum has and this will not always be possible. For this reason, the most representative and rare samples have been selected, which are displayed in 16 showcases, in the center of the hall, so that a shorter visit is possible. In separate showcases, samples of quartz and other forms of silicon dioxide, minerals of group of zeolites, radioactive minerals in a showcase with special protection for visitors, as well as organic compounds and mineral carbons.

At the entrance to the third room, there are two impressive quartz specimens (varieties of orea crystal and amethyst) in special display cases, as well as a 116 cm high amethyst geode. The special thematic collections concern minerals mainly from well-known mining centers in Greece such as Lavrio, Halkidiki, Serifos, Naxos and other areas of particular interest.

These thematic collections are complemented by showcases displaying minerals from the rest of Greece (such as Paros, Syros, Milos, Thrace) and impressive exhibits from abroad. The thematic collections are exhibited in the eastern part of the third hall. The Serifos, Naxos and Halkidiki collections, although relatively small in number of specimens, contain historic specimens representative of each region.

The showcase with radioactive minerals has a special place at the back of the room. Radiation protection is complete, since the showcase is covered with lead sheets and special lead shields. The observation of the minerals is done from a mirror, so that the observer does not have to approach the display case.

In the center of the third hall there are four showcases. One contains sculptures made of minerals and rocks, two contain raw and processed gemstones, while the fifth contains a unique scepter-shaped specimen of quartz (tobacco variety).

Sixteen of the most important industrial minerals are displayed in a tall, upright display case. The samples are accompanied by informative texts, as well as indicative products manufactured from them.

On the south side, wooden and glass figurines of crystals are presented in wall showcases. These are rare pieces of exceptional art. Especially the glass figurines, in which the axes of symmetry of the crystal can be distinguished internally. On the same side and in continuation of the crystallographic collections, there is a special tribute to the volcano of Santorini with rich photographic material, accompanied by relevant texts and specimens.

Finally, the fourth hall is a space for audio-visual media and lectures.

ΙΙΙ. ACTIVITIES OF THE MUSEUM

• Research on issues related to the minerals of Greece and publication of the relevant works.
• Touring thousands of visitors annually.
• Exhibition in the Municipality of Vrilissi with free entry and guided tour of the students.
• Participation in international mineral exhibitions in Greece (National Museum, Zappeion, French Institute, Spiritual Center of the Municipality of Athens).
• Participation in the mineral exhibition in Alexandria, Egypt in collaboration with the Ecoles de Mines de France.
• Organization of staff and student visits to the international mineral and fossil exhibition in Munich.
• Organization of staff and student visits to the Natural History Museums of Prague, Vienna and Salzburg.
• Preparation of tour programs by age and their presentation at the IMA conference in Edinburgh.
• Guided tours of the museum for people with special needs, with free admission, after special seminars attended by contracted museum partners.
• Participation of the museum in the "Week of Science and Technology".
• Viewing the museum through the CD: Pan-Hellenic Multi-Collection Guide.

Museum Committee:

Contact

Postal Address: Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, University Campus 157 84, Zografou Athens
Phone Number: +30 210-727 4112, +30 210-727 4180
Working hours: 09.00-14.00
(Closed: public holidays, Christmas and Easter holidays as well as the months of July and August)
E-mail: voudouris[at]geol.uoa[dot]gr