Short Description
The ore deposit collection of the Department of Mineralogy and Petrography is part of the mineral collection and currently comprises about 3,000 ore samples, often from mines long abandoned and ore deposits completely extinct nowadays. The historically valuable samples are mainly from Austria and the area of the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, but also from Brazil and New Zealand. However, representative samples are also present from many other countries in the world, in which they are continuously collected. Some of the ore deposit suites also contain samples of country rocks as well as processing and metallurgical products, including slags. Nowadays, the ore deposit is enlarged by material collected by employees of the department during excursions, and by gifts.
Contact Person
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Uwe Kolitsch
Research Services
Determination of ores, smelter products and slags possible on request, depending on various conditions.
Help concerning historical research.
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The employees of the department of mineralogy and petrography have expertise in the determination of ore, smelter products and slags. A large variety of analytical methods are used. The employees also have special expertise in the historical aspects of objects in the ore deposit collection, and of specific ore deposits, especially in Austria and other European countries.
Allocation to research infrastructure
Mineralogisch-Petrographische Abteilung, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien