Museum Mineralogia Munich

The Museum Mineralogia München is the publicly accessible part of the Mineralogische Staatssammlung München. The main part of the showcases is grouped around the large lecture hall of the institute building. Showcases in the western passage corridor to the scientific institutes explain mineralogical and crystallographic terms.

Mineral of the Month

Monthly we introduce you to a new mineral. You will learn more about the mineral, possible applications in our everyday life and the reasons why scientific questions are exciting. In an extra showcase you can marvel at the mineral of the month during your next visit to the museum.

Reseach

Our research focuses on the analysis of rocks building the Earth's mantle and its resources. However, the examination of meteorites, especially those originating from Mars, is also of particular importance at the Mineralogische Staatssammlung. Their investigation allows us to draw conclusions about our neighbouring planet and its formation, but also about the early development of Earth and our planetary system.

Bavarian State Collection for Mineralogy

The MSM is a collection with a great history. A whole series of diverse acquisitions formed the basis of a collection that to this day, despite many setbacks extending into the recent past, remains one of the great German mineralogical collections. The team of the Bavarian State Collection for Mineralogy is, in addition to the curatorial tasks for the maintenance of the collections, also engaged in the mediation of mineralogical and geoscientific topics in the Museum Mineralogia Munich.

News

March 2023 – Crocoite

Mineral of the Month 2023 , News

What a beautiful intense color! The mineral of the month March is the crocoite. This mineral is also known under the name “red lead ore” (German: Rotbleierz). This name gives also directly conclusions about the composition, because crocoite is a lead chromate. The color varies between a strong yellow over yellow-orange up to a bright red. Crocoite forms as a rare secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of chromium-bearing lead deposits. The so far best and largest specimens were found in Dundas on Tasmania in Australia. Also this beautiful example shown here, which can be observed in the Museum Mineralogia Munich.

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The Kunstareal – new video

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The Museum Mineralogia Munich is part of the Kunstareal. Many joint events take place within the framework of the Kunstareal. Remember for example the light action in winter 2020 or the Kunstarealfest!

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Museum Mineralogia at the Munich Show 30.9. to 02.10.2022

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The Mineralogische Staatssammlung München and the Museum Mineralogia München will be represented with a booth at the Munich Show like every year. So feel free to come and visit us at the booth. A visit at the Munich Show is worthwhile in any case.

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Mineral of the Month

December 2022 – Magnetite

Mineral of the Month 2022

These pretty magnetite crystals sit as if scattered in their parent rock. The name of the mineral already reveals its special property, because this mineral is magnetic. When magnetite forms in a rock, for example in cooling lava, its magnetisation aligns with the earth’s magnetic field.

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November 2022 – Ferberite

Mineral of the Month 2022

The mineral of the month November is ferberite. If you look at the mineral formula, you can see that ferberite belongs to the wolframite group.

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October 2022 – Vanadinite

Mineral of the Month 2022

October’s mineral of the month is vanadinite. Fall is here and the paths are covered in beautiful red leaves.

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