210th anniversary of the Geology Museum of the Kazan University

Abstract

The Geology Museum was founded in November 1805 though some collections date back to the 18th century. At first the Chamber for Natural History was initiated by the Kazan University, where a collection of specimens, either received from givers or bought from private individuals, and the Great Northern Expedition materials were exhibited. The curator of the Chamber became K. F. Fuks who participated in the Ural expedition. His contribution replenished the collection with valuable minerals (gold, silver, copper). From different corners of Russia, the University was given with specimens of rocks, minerals and petrifactions. Furthermore, the University bought equipment and exhibits required for natural history course training. By 1840 the Chamber held more than 19 thousand exhibition samples of minerals, ores and rocks. As it stood, the Chamber lived until 1865 as an auxiliary educational establishment for geology.