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English
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Research and collections
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Research Division
- Mineralogy
Department of Mineralogy
Mineralogy is devoted to the study of minerals, the solid materials of the Earth, the planets and the meteorites. It is a science that borders many other disciplines, like crystallography, ore geology, geophysics, sedimentology, palaeontology and soil science among others.
Mineralogy is of importance to modern society because essentially all our wealth is based on materials that have been extracted from the crust of the Earth or products cultivated on soils with mineral components.
The basis for mineralogical research is access to a rich and well-documented collection of minerals. The collection of our department dates back to 1739, the foundation year of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which kept a small mineral cabinet from the beginning. In 1841 the Swedish Museum of Natural History was established, with mineralogy as one of three disciplines.
The main tasks of the department are research and work related to the collections. Identification service is offered to the public depending on time available. Commissions from authorities and the industry are carried out.
Microscope image of mineral.
Photo: Ulf Hålenius
Photo: Ulf Hålenius
Sarkinite. Photo: Michael P Cooper