Museum - Mineralogical, named after A.E. Fersman RAS

The history of the oldest in our country and one of the oldest in Europe Mineralogical Museum is closely connected with the development of mineralogy in Russia. The vast majority of famous Russian mineralogists either worked directly in the museum or their activities were closely related to the museum. Many foreign scientists were also involved in the museum. The foundation of the museum was laid by the organization in 1716 of the Mineral Cabinet of the Kunstkamera in St. Petersburg. For this purpose, by order of Peter I in Danzig, Gottwald acquired an extensive collection of minerals (1195 samples) from the doctor of medicine, with which the Kunstkamera Mineral Cabinet began its existence. This collection was supplemented with samples from Russian deposits and since 1719 exhibited to the public in St. Petersburg in the building of the Kikin Chambers. In one exposition hall of the museum with an area of 1200 square meters, more than 20 thematic expositions are deployed. More than 12,000 exhibits were exhibited - 1/12 of the museum's funds. Plan of expositions of this hall in the figure below. Different colors indicate different types of exposures. Various materials and collections that came to the museum since its foundation in 1716 were systematized at the beginning of our century under the guidance of V.I. Vernadsky. Since then, the collections of the museum have been divided into five main collections: the Systematic Collection. There are currently more than 90,000 specimens representing about 2,600 of the nearly 4,000 known mineral species. In this collection selected samples characterizing the variety of types and varieties of minerals in composition, morphology, physical properties, associations with other minerals. A collection of crystals. More than 4800 samples representing crystals of 7 crystal systems (singonium). In this collection, as a rule, well-formed crystals are selected, characterizing the known forms of natural cutting, the laws of double dividing. The same collection traditionally includes synthetically obtained minerals. A collection of deposits. More than 31,000 samples. It characterizes a set of mineral species, complexes of mineral associations and genetic features of more than three hundred domestic deposits and several dozen of the most famous foreign ones. Collection of formations and transformations of minerals. About 2,200 samples representing different ways of growth, change and substitution by minerals of each other or organic bodies, processes of formation of minerals. The main part of this collection is a collection of pseudomorphoses. Collection of precious and ornamental stones and stone products. Among the nearly 8,000 specimens in this collection are both raw minerals used in jewelry and faceted gems. A large section of the collection is made of stone by Russian and foreign masters of the 18-20 centuries. In particular, from the workshops of Carl Faberge.