Mineralogy Collections
Once studied to bring systematic order to minerals and how they can be exploited economically, the mineral collection is now a unique resource for scientific history research. However, there are plenty of unique minerals and meteorites that in themselves arouse interest for future studies.
Future significance
The mineralogical collections at the Evolutionsmuseet have a rich historical significance and reflect Sweden's long tradition in geosciences. The collections began to be built up as early as the 18th century through the efforts of Carl Linnaeus and famous geologists such as Magnus von Bromell and Torbern Bergman among others. The collections were used in both teaching and research, and played an important role in the development of mineralogy as a science in Sweden. They contain unique samples from Swedish mines and international finds, and are a valuable cultural heritage that shows how scientific thinking has developed over time.
Historical significance
There are approximately 35.000 objects in the collections today. Mineralogy was a prominent academic discipline in 18th-century Sweden, as evidenced by the extensive contributions of renowned local mineralogists and chemists such as Bromell (1730), Wallerius (1747), Cronstedt (1758), Linnaeus (1768) and Bergman (1782). The mineralogical collections at Evolutionsmuseet contains a wealth of material directly or indirectly related to these researchers. We also have a collection of crystal models constructed by Tidström which are believed to be the oldest in existence and which predate similar models by Werner, Romé de l'Isle and Haüy.
Collections
