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THE HISTORY OF MINERALOGICAL MUSEUM The history of mineralogical museum one
of the oldest and biggest worldwide close related to history of mineralogy in
Russia. Most part of famous Russian mineralogists used to work at the museum
or their activity was related to museum. Museum was founded in 1716Ç. in Sankt
Petersburg as a mineral cabinet of Kunstkammer.As a base for this mineral cabinet
a collection of 1195 specimens was bought from doctor of medicine I.Gotvald
from Gdansk on the order of Tzar Peter the Great. This collection was added
by the material from Russian deposit and open for public in 1719. The KUNSTKAMMER
was open in the Kikin's palace in Sankt Petersburg in in 1719. Tzar Peter the
Great issued a special order. It was written there: ".....and then His Majesty
has ordered to librarian Shumakher subordinated to the custodian of above mentioned
Kunstkammer Areskin : since all things here established and arranged in proper
order therefore let in anybody who wants to see the above mentioned Kunstkammer
and guide them demonstrating and explaining the things." The admission to the
Kunstkammer had been free of charge. Moreover since 1724 a special budget up
to 400 rubles a year was arranged for entertainment of visiting public in order
of natural science popularization This time the collection grow with specimens
which were presenter to Russian Emperor Court or to Tzar Peter the Great personally.
For example in 1718 the King of Sweden gave Czar Peter I a magnificent example
of wire silver from the royal silver mines at Kongsberg, Norway, to add to this
collection. This specimen called "Silver Horn" and is about 16 cm long. A couple
of private collection was acquired: from Ja. Bruss, R. Areskin (bought in 1726)
and other. The Russian Academy of Sciences was founded at 1725 and at the same
year the mineral cabinet (together with all Kunstkammer) was given under it's
subordination. The laboratories and libraries were arranged in Kunstkammer.
It was growing really quick that's why new building was built in 1727. Increased
mining activity in Russia helped collection to grow as mining companies began
sending samples to the Mineral cabinet from new discoveries in Urals, Altay,
Transbaikal and other regions of Russia. By 1745 the collection had grown to
include more then 3000 minerals, fossils, gems and rocks. By this time it was
already one of most exciting Europe collection with a great aesthetic and scientific
value. The first mineral catalogue This great quantity of material required
sorting and cataloging. First to be appointed to the task of organizing the
mineral cabinet was German scientist Johann Gmelin (1709-1755). Thereafter,
Mikhail V. Lomonosov, who had just completed his studies in Germany, continued
the work. For almost five years, Lomonosov sorted out the collection and compiled
a catalogue which was published in 1745. The catalogue which was published in
1745, listed some 3 000 samples mentioned above. The tragic accident had happened
on December 5th, 1747. A great fire destroyed virtually the whole collection.
Only the most valuable items were saved, including the native silver from Kongsberg.
After renovation of the Kunstkammer building in 1766, the collection again grew
-thanks to the efforts of researcher P. S. Pallas and extensive geological exploration
work. Under a government decree, mineral and ore samples were collected from
existing mining deposits By 1767 academician P.S.Pallas (1741 -1811) - famous
scientist and traveler became a chief of Mineral cabinet. He was taking part
in some of as named Great Siberian expeditions. The second part of 18th century
was really great time of geographical and geological prospecting of eastern
parts of Russia. The expeditions sometimes were continuing more then ten years
and the material collected enriched a lot museum collections. As an example
a big piece of iron-stone meteorite (687 kg) was found by P.S. Pallas in Siberia.
Now it's called "Pallas iron". There were delivered to museum about 2000 specimens
collected in expeditions. Purchases were also made from private collections.
In 1784, an interesting national collection of minerals was purchased from the
estate of A.A. Nartov (former president of Berg College). By the mid 1780s the
cabinet comprised more than 9 000 exhibits.To place new and old acquisitions
museum got two new big halls in Kunstkammer building and a strong group of scientists
- academicians Iogann Gotlib (Georgi) (1729-1802), Iogan Ferber (1743-1790),
J.M. Renovantz (1744-1798) and others - start systematization and reordering
the mineral collections. They were divided geographically to Russian minerals
and rock collection and foreign collection. The fossils were separated to a
special collection. Minerals were placed according classification based on their
properties. Finally the description of the entire collection was prepared to
1789 in Russian . To the end of XVII century 10550 specimens were encountered
including about 4000 samples from Russian - and more than 6000 from foreign
deposits. At the turn of the century the work of academician Vasiliy M.Severgin
(1765-1826) had a great impact on the development of Russian mineralogy. On
becoming Director of the mineral cabinet in 1807, Severgin began an fundamental
reorganization of the complete mineral collection. V. M. Severgin later arranged
mineral exchanges with foreign scientists and bought a few major collections
from within Russia. The most important collection acquired this time were collection
of Forster (about 5000 specimens) (1805), collection of colonel Shenshin and
collection of famous french mineralogist J.L. de Bournon (1807) and many others.
He arranged mineral collection according his classification and continued dividing
collections by geographical principle. V.Severgin also arranged collections
for students studying using R.J. Haui system. The activity in reordering collections
was interrupted by the war with Napoleon in 1812. The main part of collection
was evacuated to Petrozavodsk and returned back next year. V.Severgin's work
on museum materials give him a possibility to publish the results in his famous
monographs. Among them first book for diagnostic the minerals based on his external
features, "The first basements of Mineralogy or natural history mined bodies",
"The experience of mineralogical description of Russia", first guide through
the Mineral cabinet and other publication. The achievement for the period of
V.Severgin's work at the Mineral cabinet was so great that turned the collection
from a set of earth curious rarities to a really scientific collection. To 1814
the quantity of specimens in museum collection was already more than 20000 so
during a short period museum collection became more than twice bigger. After
V.Severgin's death the A.T Kupffer (1799-1865) was a director of the Mineral
cabinet. At that time a few collections of minerals from Norway, Sweden and
England were acquired. The collection of Russian diplomat G.A. Struve was bought
in Hamburg, Germany. By 1836 Kunstkammer was divided to 7 separate museums.
One of them was named Mineralogical museum which was placed to new building.
Geologist G.P Gelmersen (1803-1885) became a director of the museum. From 1845
to 1857 the director was K.I Grieving (1819-1887). In 1866 well known Russian
mineralogist N.I.Koksharov (1818 - 1892) was selected as an ordinary academician
and at the same time the museum director. The scientific activity of N.I.Koksharov
was mostly related with Mining institute where Koksharov also had got director's
position in 1872. That's why there was no his evident influence in developing
mineralogy in museum. Whole period up to the end of 19th century was not really
brilliant. There weren't big expedition work and collection mostly grow by purchasing
private collections. Among noticeable acquisitions the collections of I.P.Balashov
(1868), S.G.Stroganov (1877), A.F. Folbort (1877) and other. The museum gradually
became oriented toward geology and paleontology and finally in 1898 was renamed
to the "Geological Museum", which he became in fact. The mineral collection
and exhibits were diminished, being replaced by rock specimens and fossil exhibits.
This situation was changed thanks to Russian geologist academician A.P. Karpinskiy
who placed a protest against diminishing mineralogy in Mineralogical museum,
He and another geologist - academician F. N. Chernyshev who was an appointed
director of the museum since 1900 invited V. I. Vernadskiy for taking care about
mineralogy. In 1906 the work of the museum was delivered to academician V. I.
Vernadskiy . Under his guidance mineralogy began to thrive again. F.N.Chernyshov
also engaged to work in museum since 1900 V.I. Vorob'ev, who was main keeper.
The achievements in fast growing of mineral collections between 1900 and 1906
was mostly related with Vorob'ev's activity. In particular he obtain the collection
of Russian Mineralogical Society for museum. In 1906 Vorob'ev perished during
expedition to Caucasus mountains. As it appeared after his tragic death his
capital (20000 rubles) was bequeathed to museum. The percents from this capital
could be spent only for purchasing mineral specimens and collections. That was
used to buy about 100 valuable specimens of Urals minerals from collector K.A.Shishkovskiy.
The collection of mining engineer I.N.Kryzhanovskiy also was obtained on those
money and a few others. In 1912, the name was changed to "The Museum of Geology
and Mineralogy" and was dedicated to Peter the Great. The mineral research laboratory
was founded and research trips were organized to the Urals, Siberia and Transbaikal.
During that time a few large collections were purchased. Deserving of particular
mention was A. P. Kochubey's collection of over 2700 mineral specimens from
Russian and foreign deposits which his heirs had moved to Austria. F.N. Chernyshev
and V. I. Vernadsky vigorously redressed the situation when in 1912 Russia purchased
this collection for 160 000 rubies for the Academy of Sciences at a Viennese
auction. The collection was thereafter moved in 1914 to the Museum of Mineralogy.
V.I.Vernadskiy engaged to museum many young, talented and energetic scientist.
Among them were future directors of the museum A.E.Fersman, V.I.Kryzhanovskiy.
After about 100 years break V.Vernadskiy restart work on systematization museum
funds and exhibits. Museum funds were separating to 6 main collection: systematic
collection, crystal collection, pseudomorph collection, locality collection,
gem collection and meteoritic collection. The system of mineralogy by D.Dana
was used for systematic collection. Inventory books and cards catalogs were
renovated or made again. Big achievements were also in scientific work. The
new chemical, spectrum and other laboratories were arranged where the minerals
of rare and radioactive elements were investigated. The expeditions to Urals,
Transbaikal were taking place nearly every year. The magazine "Transactions
of Peter the Great Geological Museum" was founded. For space mineralogy investigation
L.A.Kulik (1883 -1942) was engaged and made a lot for developing meteoritic
science. Successful museum work was interrupted by First World War and then
by Revolution in 1917. On 1919, Academic Alexander Fersman was appointed Director
of the Museum of Mineralogy. Under his leadership museum activities were directed
towards solving practical economic problems, researching the country's mineral
deposits and the development of research and laboratory techniques by adopting
the latest methods. Museum expeditions to Kola Peninsula in 1919-1922 leaded
to discovery of the biggest for that time apatite deposit in Khibina mountains.
The exploration of this deposit was completely started in 1929. It was found
also a number of new minerals many of those were named in honor of museum workers.
Museum employees were also taking part in Tadjik-Pamiri Expedition - organization
which prospected and discover many mineral deposits in Central Asia. The museum
collections enriched a lot with minerals found during those expeditions. The
expeditions were also arranged to Siberia, Caucasus and discover a few new mining
regions. So that was really great time in museum history. The acquisition many
of rather interesting articles made of stones and some gemstones directly related
with A.E.Fersman. Having some influence on communist administration he could
save some treasures expropriated from reach class after revolution so it wasn't
sold abroad. Famous jeweler K.Faberge presented trough A.E.Fersman his private
collection of gemstones to museum before emigration from Russia in 1919. As
his teacher V.I.Vernadskiy academician A.E.Fersman engaged to museum so many
talented scientist that the whole institute was arranged in 1930 on the museum
base. It was named the "Institute for Mineralogy and Geochemistry", which in
1932 was renamed the "Geochemical, Mineralogical and Crystallographic Institute"
and dedicated to M.V. Lomonosov. Academician A.E. Fersman was appointed its
director. Another group of scientist from museum who was study crystals grow
and crystallochemistry A.V. Shubnikov, N.V.Belov and other was separated to
the institute of crystallography. In 1934, the Soviet Academy of Sciences and
most of its faculties including the Museum of Mineralogy moved from Leningrad
to Moscow. Thirty railway carriages were required to move the museum's collection
of more than 60000 specimens. The relocation and setting up of the exhibition
took 3 years of energetic work. In 1936 -1937 the museum organized independent
exhibitions in Moscow. Museum was placed to a historical building which represents
Moscow's architecture of the beginning 19 century (architecture E.Turin) which
was built for Count Orlov-Chesmensky as a manege to accommodate a riding hall
and stables. Under Emperor Nicholas I the building was served as an out of town
dancing hall for Russian Court. After setting the exhibits museum was open in
1937 to the time of XVII International Geological Congress in Moscow. The movement
didn't interrupt too much museum expedition and work with collections. By the
beginning Second World War for Soviet Union about 80000 specimens were calculated
in museum collections. When the war began in 1941 the most valuable part of
collection was evacuated from Moscow and returned at 1944. In 1945 died academicians
V.I.Vernadskiy and A.E.Fersman. The director's position was delivered to V.I.
Kryzhanovskiy (1881-1947) who was actually working as an executive director
of museum while A.E.Fersman was leading both institute and museum. He made a
huge work for an arrangement mineral exchange and was known as a brilliant lector.
Couple years 1947-1953 the museum director was D.S.Belyankin (1876 -1953). He
renewed publishing of museum magazine (the publishing was interrupted by the
war). Long time since 1953 to 1976 museum director was G.P.Barsanov.During that
time the new systematic exposition based on Barsanov's crystalochemical classification
was created. The scientific work was mainly directed to investigation of pegmatites
in different regions of Soviet Union. In 1955 in honor of academician A.E.Fersman
achievements museum was renamed to Fersman Mineralogical Museum. Yu.L. Orlov
became a director in 1976 after G.P.Barsanov became a head of mineralogy chair
in Moscow University. His activity was mainly related to investigations of diamonds.
Museum got a nice collection of diamonds with inclusions. Since 1983 to 1995
the museum work was under leadership of A.A.Godovikov. He developed rearrangement
of the exhibits after long reconstruction of the building was leading in preparationmuseum
to XXVII International Geological Congress in Moscow 1984. Old exhibits were
renovated and five new big exhibit was made. One of those exhibits is "The forms
of crystallization minerals in nature" and the biggest one is systematic exhibit
according his classification which was finished already after his death. A.A.Godovikov
presented to museum his private collection about 5000 specimens and beside that
collected, traded a lot of great scientific and aesthetic value materials. By
museum expeditions, exchange and purchasing private collections museum got a
high class mineral specimens. The work on creating mineral databases and computerization
of museum catalogs started at that time. Museum served many external exhibits
worldwide. A special merit of A.Godovikov in engaging another outstanding Russian
mineralogist V.I.Stepanov to work in museum. V.I.Stepanov came with collection
which he collected about 40 years. The main part of collection consisted of
15000 specimens. Before movement to Fersman museum collection was kept in institute
of Mineralogy and Geochemistry of rare elements; in the basement in rather dangerous
situation. This collection contained more than 100 mineral species which were
absent in museum before. Moreover it contain huge amount specimens from the
deposits completely mined out. This collection is actually one the pearl of
our museum. This thanks to A.Godovikov and V.I.Stepanov in period 1983-1985
museum collection increased more than on 25000 specimens - valuable ones. Nowadays
altogether museum collections containing 135000 exponats from over the world.
This is one of most exciting mineral museum of the world. The collection represents
2300 among 4000 known mineral species. About 12000 specimens are on more then
20 exhibits in museum hall. All museum collections are computer cataloged. Museum
and mineral species databases developed in museum are available. Museum arranging
temporary exhibits of Russian minerals and gems heritage in Russia and abroad.
Currently the director of the Fersman Mineralogical museum - Dr., professor
Margarita I.Novgorodova. Specialist in mineralogy of gold deposits, native elements
and intermetallid compounds.