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GEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

The Department maintains a Geological Museum for students' training and other educational programs where different types of rocks and minerals, identifying the earth's constituents, are maintained. The Museum was founded in 1406 H (1986) and is  a valuable resource for students, research workers, and other enthusiasts with an interest to learn about geology in general, and Saudi Arabia in particular. This is more so, since Saudi Arabia encompasses a stable shield, huge sedimentary basins and a large igneous province where a wide variety of rocks, minerals and fossils are found. Moreover, geologists view Saudi Arabia as the gateway between Africa and mainland Asia; a fact of high importance in studying the natural history of the earth. The Museum supports teaching and research in Earth Sciences and Natural History at the University. It also supports active fossil-research program in the Department. Furthermore, as a museum of Practical Geology, it illustrates the application of geology to the useful purposes of life.

 

The Museum contains a large number of rock samples and fossils collected from Saudi Arabia and the regions worldwide; these are cataloged as rock, mineral and fossil specimens. It includes collections of minerals, rocks and fossils of more than 20,000 samples. Meteorites and their effects on the earth surface are also considered within the main topics of the museum. Mineral collections are exhibited according to the crystal chemical classification whereas geological processes form the basis of the rock and ore collections. Paleontological collections provide an introduction to the development of life on earth. The museum collection is furnished with modern show-cases.

The Museum is housed on the second floor in the Department. It is open to  visitors daily for two hours between 10-12 a.m., from Saturday to Wednesday. Visits are organized by the Museum Supervisor, and arrangements for visits can be made by contacting the Chairman of the Department (Tel. 467-6212).

Last updated on : October 30, 2024 11:53am