Museum Mineralogia Munich

The Museum Mineralogia Munich is the publicly accessible part of the Bavarian State Collection for Mineralogy in Munich. The majority of the showcases are arranged around the large lecture hall of the institute building. In the west part, in the passage corridor to the scientific institutes, there are showcases dedicated to the explanation of mineralogical and crystallographic terms.

Mobile experimental arrangements, which can be operated by the visitor, models and of course the matching mineral specimens and single crystals explain concepts such as crystal structure, symmetry elements, mineral optics, crystal growth, crystal cultivation and much more in a didactically excellent manner. Here the visitor is slowly introduced to the field of science mineralogy. The wall displays in this area, when not needed for a special exhibition, are dedicated to the presentation of important Bavarian ore and mineral deposits and their minerals.

The showcases in the east of the large lecture hall serve, among other things, as “action areas” for the short-term presentation of particularly current topics. A separate showcase is available to the Munich Association of Friends of Minerals, which supports the museum financially; it is designed alternately by the individual sections of the association under selected themes.

In addition to these showcases, which are freely accessible in the passage rooms, the museum also has a separate exhibition room in which the special exhibitions take place every year in the winter semester. In the summer semester, raw and cut gemstones, precious metals (gold, silver and platinum) and meteorites from the holdings of the Mineralogical State Collection are displayed in this room.

News

Retrospective: Treasure Island

Temporary Exhibitions

This temporary exhibition is dedicated to minerals, crystals and exhibits from the Bavarian State Collection for Mineralogy and the archives of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University.

learn more

Satellite: Exhibition in the Museum Mineralogia starting 26.10.2023

News , Temporary Exhibitions

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

learn more

March 2024 – magnesite

Mineral of the Month 2024

In March 2024, magnesite holds the title of Mineral of the Month. Magnesite belongs to the group of carbonates and is predominantly formed hydrothermally. This means that magnesite precipitates from hot fluids. Due to the high temperature resistance of magnesite (up to around 3000°C), it is an important raw material for the production of refractory bricks, which are used to furnaces. China is the largest producer of magnesite with 20 million tons (2020). A special shape of magnesite is the so-called pinolite. A mixture of magnesite, dolomite and graphite. The white magnesite grains are reminiscent of pine nuts, hence the name pinolite. This is particularly well known from the Hohe Tauern in Austria.

learn more

The Kunstareal – new video

News

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!

learn more