This section deals with natural objects of a very special type. It presents remarkable examples of rocks which were formed under exceptional conditions. The exhibition gives an idea of the beautiful forms and colours of extraordinary minerals from all over the world. Many are crystals of considerable size.

The origin, chemical composition, physical characteristics and other scientific facts about minerals are discussed. If all this seems too technical, you might just want to enjoy the fascinating view of the gem display case. Here you will find raw and polished examples, amongst others of aquamarine, beryl, ruby, emerald and topaz. What characterizes a gemstone and in which ways does it surpass a piece of jewellery made of polished glass or quartz - quite apart from the price? The most important characteristic, common to all gem minerals, is their enormous hardness. It protects the polished gem surfaces from scratches (which cause loss of lustre) and leads to numerous technical uses. For example, tiny diamond splinters are used for facings on special milling tools. The diamond is outstandingly hard (10 on the Mohs’ scale). It is truly the “King of Gems”.

A large showcase is dedicated to quartz, the most common mineral on the earth’s surface. It is made up of the elements oxygen and silica. Whether as insignificant rock, transparent rock crystal, colourful amethyst or citrine or in microcrystalline form like agate and jasper – quartz appears in a remarkably large number of variations.

In another showcase, “Man-Made Crystals” are presented. Here you can learn that crystals may be “grown” from pure silica and many other basic mineral elements. They are important for the production of electronic components.