The Type Minerals Collection is small but scientifically significant internationally, as it contains specimens used to identify new species.
Lodgement of type specimens in an appropriate museum collection is a requirement of the international approval process, which strongly underpins the integrity of the science of mineralogy. They then become available for mineralogists worldwide,.
Museum Victoria currently holds type material (type, cotype, neotype) for some 40 minerals, or 1 per cent of all known minerals, making it the most important lodging place in Australia.
The collection consists of 45 mainly hand specimens, but also includes fragments of single crystals, or polished mounts, covering 40 species.