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This month, phlogopite was chosen as the mineral of the month. Phlogopite is a mineral belonging to the mica group and is one of the most common minerals in the earth’s crust. Phlogopite usually forms tabular to prismatic crystals. However, platy, scaly or massive mineral aggregates also occur. Phlogopite is most frequently found in magmatic rock. Phlogopite is used in plastics, as a substitute for asbestos, in pigments and for the production of insulating materials in electrical engineering. The name phlogopite is derived from the Greek word Φλογωπός phlogopos. This means ‘fiery-looking’. The name refers to the often translucent, reddish shimmering crystals.

Die Hornblende gehört zu der Amphibolgruppe und ist das Mineral des Monats September. Amphibole sind Ketten-Silikate, wobei die SiO₄-Tetraedern über Ecken miteinander verknüpft sind. Amphibole treten ins besonders in magmatischen und metamorphen Gesteinen auf und gehören zu den häufigeren Mineralen. In den Alpen habt Ihr vielleicht auch schon einmal einen Hornblenden-Garbenschiefer gesehen. In diesem Gestein gibt es abgesehen von der Hornblende meistens noch Glimmer und Granate. Diese Kombination an Mineralen verrät uns auch etwas über die Bildungsbedingungen dieser Gesteine in Gebirgen. Somit ist die Untersuchung von Hornblenden von Bedeutung für viele unterschiedliche wissenschaftliche Fragestellungen.

Pycnite is the mineral of the month for August 2024. This beautiful mineral is a variety of topaz. A variety is the different formation of a mineral in terms of its colour, transparency, or habit Similar to pylknite, varieties often have their own minerals. The internal structure of the crystals in each variety is identical. This is also the difference to a modification, where the chemical composition is identical but the crystal structure is different. The best-known location where pycnite is found in Germany is Altenberg in Saxony.

Wait a minute, sphalerite was already a mineral of the month once, wasn’t it? That is correct. However, this year sphalerite was named Ore Mineral of the Year. This is the second time that the Ore Mineral of the Year category has been awarded by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) Commission on Ore Mineralogy.

The mineral of the month was found by the young researcher Greta in the Isar river. However, to be precise, it is not a mineral but it is a rock. The grey colour also gives the name: It is greywacke. Under a magnifying glass, you can see many feldspars.

Our new special exhibition opened on October 26, 2023 and will be on display until May 26, 2024. The exhibition tells the story of the Giant impact and the Moon formation.

Accompanying the ‘Moon Impact’ exhibition is the show ‘satellite’. A solo show of contemporary art jewellery by Stephen Bottomley, MPhil RCA.

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!

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.