Short Description
The rock collection of the Department of Mineralogy and Petrography contains over tens of thousands of specimens and has a world-wide coverage. The collection is subdivided into several specific "sub-collections", including the building stone and decorative stone collection (separate entry in the infrastructure database), the collection of thin sections, the impactite collection, and the sand collection.
The rock collection contains many historical samples (some of them collected during the 19th century during several overseas expeditions).
Only a very limited number of rock samples are displayed to the public, mainly in Hall IV, where they are systematically arranged, representing a selection of the main rock types, occurring in Austria and in the rest of the world.
Contact Person
Dr. Lidia Pittarello
Research Services
Classification of rock types possible on request, depending on various conditions.
Historical research. Cooperation in research projects.
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The employees of the department of mineralogy and petrography can offer their experience in the identification of rock types and in scientific research on geological processes in selected rock samples, using a large variety of analytical methods.
Allocation to research infrastructure
Mineralogisch-Petrographische Abteilung, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien
Università di Camerino
Università di Pavia