Mineralogical Museum in Moscow

The Moscow Mineralogical Museum named after A.E. Fersman is one of the most famous in the world and the largest in Russia. Over the years since its founding, it has acquired a rich collection of minerals and precious stones. The museum's fund consists of thematic collections, and the number of permanent exhibitions has reached 18.

History of the Mineralogical Museum

The life of the Mineralogical Museum is closely connected with the development of Russian mineralogy. It was founded in 1716 as one of the offices of the Kunstkamera of St. Petersburg. Then, by order of Peter I, a collection of minerals was brought from Danzig. It numbered more than 1000 copies.

Many scientists collaborated with the museum, including Lomonosov, who collected minerals and created a special catalog for the museum. The exhibition grew due to the finds of expeditions led by Krasheninnikov and Pallas. The material was gradually replenished with minerals from Transbaikalia, Altai and the Urals. Over the first 50 years of its existence, the collection reached 10 thousand exhibits.

Mineralogical Museum.

In the 19th century, the Mineralogical Museum in Moscow received a geological direction, and the mineralogical collection began to exist as one of the departments. A return to the original theme occurs only in 1912. After 1917, an important period began in the life of the museum, when Academician Fersman became the head of the institution. Under him, the collection was replenished with truly valuable materials, including private collections and items made from precious stones. Having moved to Moscow in 1934, the museum was located in one of the historical buildings of the Neskuchny Garden - the arena.

In 1956, the museum received the name of Academician Fersman. Thus, the merits of the famous mineralogist were noted, under whom the museum achieved brilliant results.

Alexander Evgenievich Fersman (1883 - 1945)

Great Russian scientist, researcher and popularizer of science;

Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences;

Student of V.I. Vernadsky;

Founder of Russian geochemistry;

From 1917 to 1945 - director of the Mineralogical Museum;

Discovered many mineral deposits on the territory of the USSR;

Discovered apatite and iron ore deposits on the Kola Peninsula;

Created the Kola branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences;

During the Great Patriotic War, he headed the commission for geological and geographical services of the Red Army.

Academician Fersman in Khibiny. Photograph of the period 1920-1922. (photo geo.web.ru)

Collection of the Mineralogical Museum

New exhibits have been entering the museum's collections for several centuries. They are divided into five large collections:

Systematic includes 90,000 exhibits. They represent 2,500 types of minerals out of 4,000 that are known to scientists. The samples are selected in such a way that they characterize the diversity of minerals by their physical properties;
The crystal collection consists of 4,800 exhibits of well-formed shapes. As a rule, they all have a natural cut;
The deposit collection includes more than 30,000 samples of genetic features from hundreds of Russian and foreign deposits;
The Mineral Transformation Collection includes specimens that demonstrate the process of mineral formation;
The stone collection includes thousands of rough and cut stones, crafted by artisans over the past 200 years.

Unique exhibits

Among the museum's exhibits there are truly unique and rare specimens. An entire exhibition is dedicated to meteorites. Among the exhibits on display are the well-known “Pallas Iron” meteorite and the so-called “drops” of meteorite showers.

The collection of jewelry especially stands out. They were made in the 18th-20th centuries by famous Russian and foreign masters. The pearl of the exhibition are precious stones that once belonged to the Faberge dynasty. On display are vases, figurines, boxes and the last unfinished Fabergé egg.

Information for visitors

The Mineralogical Museum is located in Moscow at Leninsky Prospekt, 18, building 2. Directions: metro station Leninsky Prospekt or Oktyabrskaya.

Museum opening hours: from 11.00 to 17.00, non-working days - Monday, Tuesday.

The cost of visiting the museum is 250 rubles, students - 100 rubles, students - geologists, preschoolers - free.

Mineralogical Museum named after A. E. Fersman

Mineralogical Museum on the map of Moscow.

Photo tour of the Mineralogical Museum

One of the fragments of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite. The museum has a very large collection of meteorites and you can get acquainted with their different types.