The Mineral Collection consists of 50 000 registered specimens from Victorian, other Australian and foreign localities. Representing 150 years of acquisition from a wide variety of sources, it provides specimens for research and exhibition, as well as to illustrate scientific and popular publications, in both print and electronic formats.
More than 40 type specimens of new Australian minerals are lodged in the collection, which also includes a gemstone component. Full computer-registration provides efficient access to all specimens, which are arranged systematically, primarily by crystal chemistry, then by locality.
The collection is the most significant in Australia for the range of species, the number of type specimens and its level of documentation. It is expected that the use of the collection for reference and research will increase significantly as new analytical and dating techniques are developed. Improved documentation, including historical and analytical data, as well as images, will also be important for the collection’s development.
The collection consists mainly of specimens of hand-specimen size or smaller, which may range from single crystals to complex associations of species. Current and historical labels are kept with the specimens on uniform-sized cardboard trays, all of which are housed in metal cabinets.
Housed separately from the systematic collection are larger and/or heavier specimens more suited to display. More valuable items from the collection, especially gold, opals and several diamonds, are kept in a locked safe.
Significant features of the Mineral Collection
- Great depth in the representation of mineral species.
- Considerable diversity in habit, location and origin for many more common species.
- Excellent representation of suites from particular localities (‘mineralogical rainforests’ such as Broken Hill and Tsumeb).
- High potential for attractive exhibitions and publications.
- Strong representation of local (Victorian) mineral occurrences.
- A vast body of ‘hidden knowledge’ within the collection.
The combination of these features ensures that the existing Mineral Collection provides unlimited research potential in a number of strategic fields in the earth sciences. As well, it is a tangible record of the history of public education in mineralogy and of the mining industry in Victoria.
Access to the mineral collections can be arranged by contacting Senior Collection Manager Dermot Henry or Senior Curator Dr Bill Birch.