Permanent collections and exhibits

The museum houses about 16,500 specimens of which approximately 12,500 are minerals, more than 3,700 cut gems and 223 are meteorite samples. They are grouped as follows (numbers are approximate):

• Systematic collection (10,000 specimens from Romania and the most significant occurrences worldwide, illustrating more than 700 mineral species)
• Regional collection (1,500 mineral samples from Romania)
• Native gold collection (500 samples)
• Meteorite collection (223 specimens: it is the most important collection of its kind in Romania)
• Gem collection (230 cut gemstones)
• Romanian gems collection (3,500 gems and ornamental stones)
• The collection of mineral species first described from Romanian occurrences (40 samples)
• Radioactive minerals collection (200 samples)
• Crystallography collection (1,250 specimens)
• Zeolites from the Apuseni Mountains
• Peridotitic nodules from the Eastern Carpathians
• Twin crystals collection
• Cave minerals from Romania

Except for the Radioactive minerals collection, all the other are illustrated by permanent displays within the two rooms (a total of 126 m²) consisting the museum and along the hall of the Department of Mineralogy (Crystallography collection). In the museum proper approximately 8,000 specimens are on display (59 showcases).

The Systematic exhibit completely fills the first room. Approximately 4,500 specimens of the 9 mineral classes are on display in 36 showcases. The arrangement follows the system defined by H. Strunz. More than 700 distinctive mineral species (about 850 mineral names, including varieties) originating from Romania or around the world from a wide range of significant occurrences. Additionally, some representative synthetic materials and rocks are exhibited.

1. Native elements, alloys

   The native gold collection marks the beginning of the systematic display. Other species well illustrated in the exhibit are copper (photo), silver (e.g. from Kongsberg, Norway), iron, arsenic (spheroidal aggregates from Sacaramb and Hondol, Romania, and from Echizen, Japan), sulfur (crystals up to 6 cm from Girgenti, Sicily), graphite, and diamond (bort variety and glass replicas of some famous cut gemstones). The samples of tellurium, a rare species and chemical element first described from Transylvania (Fata Baii, near Zlatna, Alba district) by Muller von Reichenstein (1782) are of a special scientific value.

2. Sulfides, sulfosalts, tellurides

   This class is well-represented, due to the natural richness of Romania in metal ores, mainly consisting of these minerals. Most of these are opaque and have a metallic lustre. Among them chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena were traditionally mined for Cu, Zn and Pb respectively. Perfect pyrite cubic crystals up to 3.5 cm (photo) from Bucium-Arama mine, Alba district (producer of the largest pyrite crystals in Romania), as well as stibnite with various morphologies from the Baia Mare region (NW Romania) constitue the main feature of the display. Perfect alabandite crystals (up to 1.5 cm) from Sacaramb, Hunedoara district (Romania) are among the largest in the world. The largest collection in the world of bent microcrystals of jamesonite (all originating from Romania) is included. Rare and scientifically valuable samples are represented by the Au- and Ag- containing tellurides from Apuseni Mountains: petzite, sylvanite, krennerite, nagyagite - first described from Romanian occurrences (Sacaramb, Baia de Aries, or hessite (Botes) - displaying large and fine crystals (1-3 cm).

3. Halides

   Twelve million years ago (during the Miocene), the Transylvanian Depression was a large salt water lagoon that gradually evaporated, leading to the formation of a massive layer of salt rock consisting of the mineral halite. Thus, it is no coincidence that it was a Romanian geologist, Ludovic Mrazek, who introduced the term diapirism (plastic deformation and uplift of salt, by piercing the overlaying formations) at the beginning of the 20th century. Large crystals of halite (up to 13 cm) from various mines in the region (photo), as well as from other classical areas such as Stassfurt (Germany), Wieliczka (Poland) and California (USA) are on display. Fluorite is another spectacular mineral, showing perfect crystals in a large range of colours (e.g. violet, green, yellow) originating from several occurrences in Romania (Cavnic mine, and Banat region) or abroad (Germany, Great Britain etc.). There are also fine green crystals of atacamite from Chile (2.5 cm in size).

4. Oxides, hydroxides

   This class groups some of the species that are among the best represented in the Earth's crust (approximately 17 % of the total mass, of which 12 % are represented by SiO₂, i.e. mainly quartz and opal). Hundreds of specimens of quartz (amethyst, rock crystal - photo, smoky quartz etc.) - including fine-grained, i.e. chalcedony (e.g. agate) and massive, i.e. jasper-type varieties - and of opal (precious opal, fire opal, silicified wood etc.), from Romania and worldwide are on display in 3 showcases which are among the highlights of the exhibition. Most of the samples are polished, showing the gemological potential of these natural materials. Gem varieties of corundum (e.g. ruby, sapphire) and chrysoberyl are also noteworthy. Magnetite and hematite are the main Fe-containing ore minerals; in Romania they were traditionally mined in the Banat region (e.g. Ocna de Fier) and Masca-Baisoara, Cluj district. The rutile crystals from Rez Mountains (Romania), up to 10 cm long, are among the largest ones in the Romanian mineral collections.

5. Nitrates, carbonates, borates

   The best illustrated species in the exhibition is calcite (two showcases), well-known due to its great natural morphological variety. Colorless and perfectly transparent crystals (including Iceland Spar), the pink Mn-containing variety, and the typical black & white spheroidal aggregates from Baia Mare region (NW Romania) are among the most appreciated specimens in the collection. Polished samples of limestone and marble - rocks consisting almost exclusively of calcite, plead for their usage as ornamental stones. Rare twin crystals of aragonite from Spania Dolina (Slovakia) up to 7 cm in size, and from Corund, Harghita district (Romania) (1-2 cm in length) are highly prized. Lively coloured malachites (green) and azurites (blue) from the most siginficant occurrences in Romania and worldwide (USA, France, Namibia, Russia etc.) catch the visitor's eye. Rare borates such as ludwigite, or szaibelyite and kotoite, have Romanian type localities (first mention in the references from these occurrences): Ocna de Fier (Caras-Severin district), and respectively Baita, Bihor district.

6. Sulfates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates

   Perfect crystals of celestite from Copaceni and Cluj (Cluj district, Romania) are on display besides fine specimens from abroad (Germany, Italy, France, USA etc.). Barite samples from Baia Mare region (Romania) usually show well-crystallized lamellae arranged in rosettes; columnar morphologies are also illustrated by barites from France, UK, or USA. Gypsum is present in the exhibit as fine crystals (photo) of various morphology and size (up to 20 cm), and as fine-grained massive aggregates (building up the ornamental stone alabaster). Gypsum may also be considered an industrial mineral, being the raw material for obtaining Plaster of Paris. Spectacular colours are displayed by samples of Tasmanian crocoite (red) and Cu-containing sulfates such as chalcanthite, or devilline (blue/green).

7. Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates

   Many new species have recently been discovered in this class. The exhibit contains rare species, some of them first described from Romania (e.g. krautite, associated with villyaellenite from Sacaramb, Hunedoara district) but also samples of common minerals, such as variously coloured apatite (photo) from well-known occurrences worldwide (Canada, Germany Czech Republic, Austria, Norway etc.). Copper phosphates or arsenates (turquoise, lavendulan etc.) show intense green or blue colours.

8. Silicates

   This class has the greatest number of mineral species (currently more than 25 % of the total number of species). However, its importance is better indicated by the relative amount of silicates in the Earth's crust: about 80 % of the total mass. In general, silicate minerals are transparent and show high hardness values. When brightly coloured, they may be used as gemstones: garnet group, topaz, beryl (especially known for its varieties emerald and aquamarine), tourmaline group, jadeite and nephrite (the latter two species designated as jade when showing gem quality). These minerals and their gem varieties are well-illustrated in the collection, with samples from classical regions including Russia (Ural Mountains), Italy, Brazil and USA. Of a high scientific value are samples of rare minerals, such as gehlenite - the world record of crystal size (15 cm) is held by some Romanian specimens; on display in the exhibit are crystals up to 7 cm - or tilleyite, both from Vata de Sus, Hunedoara district (Romania) Various feldspars (including gem varieties such as amazonite, and labradorite) from Romania and well-known occurrences from abroad (Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia) are also represented. The alkaline sienite massif from Ditrau, Harghita district (Romania) is comparable with the famous Mont Saint-Hilaire (Canada), especially due to the presence of typical minerals such as nepheline, sodalite (photo), and cancrinite.

9. Organic minerals

   This class groups the compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, which are relatively scarce in nature. The most spectacular samples are those of amber (metaphorically called the tear of gods), among which are specimens from Colti, Buzau district (photo) and Valenii de Munte, Prahova district (Romania) and from the Baltic Sea shore (Poland, Ukraine). Amber is generated by the transformation of natural fossil resins and it may sometimes contain embedded insects or other fossil organisms. The same showcase exhibits various types of coal - organic fuels rich in carbon resulting from the transformation of fossil plants and consisting of organic mineraloids.

The native gold collection, contains about 500 specimens. According to number of samples and diversity, it is the second of its kind in Romania, the first being the Gold Museum in Brad, Hunedoara district. The first showcase in the systematic exhibit displays more than 160 samples from Romania and worldwide. The best represented is the Rosia Montana (Alba district, Romania) ore deposit, besides other traditional mining areas in the Golden Quadrangle of the Apuseni Mountains (Bucium-Baia de Aries, Brad-Sacaramb, Zlatna-Stanija etc) and the Baia Mare region (Cavnic). Most of these deposits were mined since antiquity. Gold flakes and a nugget panned from river placers are exhibited. Some of the foreign famous gold-containing areas which are represented in the collection are: Ural Mountains (crystals up to 2 mm from Neviansk) and Siberia (Russia), Cornwall (Great Britain), California (USA), Mexico, Columbia, and Venezuela.

The regional collection of minerals from Romania (1,500 specimens) contains the core (13 showcases) of the exhibit in the second room of the museum. More than 70 occurrences representing classical mines but also surface outcrops are illustrated.

Romania was famous for its mineral richness, and mining represented a well-established industry since antiquity. The traditional mining areas, well illustrated in the exhibit, were: Oas - Gutai - Tibles, with the centre at Baia Mare; Apuseni Mountains (Metalliferous Mountains in particular), with the centre at Brad (both dominated by hydrothermal ore deposits), and the Banat region, with the centre at Ocna de Fier - Dognecea (with skarn-type ore deposits associated to the banatite magmatic activity). Metallic minerals dominate, representing the ores themselves, but also typical non-metallic accompanying minerals are on display.

In Romanian, there is a specific term for specimens consisting of well-developed crystals/crystal aggregates, i.e. floare de mina (mine flower). Many samples in this collection are of this type. For more such beautiful samples we additionally recommend to you a visit to the Mineralogical Museum in Baia Mare.

Besides mining areas, a large number of other (surface) occurrences are included. For example, minerals from the alluvia of the rivers in Sebes Mountains, sulfur crusts and massive aggregates from andesites in Calimani Mountains, and minerals from metamorphic rocks from the Fagaras Mountains can be seen. For those interested in collecting minerals and rocks in the neighbourhood of Cluj (Capusu Mic, Aghires, Sandulesti, Copaceni - Tureni etc.), this exhibit may be inspiring.

The meteorite collection (223 specimens, of which more than 100 on display) - represents the only collection of this type in Romania.

The term meteoron (Gr.) signifies a phenomenon that takes place in the skies. In particular it refers to the light produced by the burst of cosmic materials due to the friction with atmosphere particulates. If the burst was only partial, the remaining material reaches the surface of the Earth and it is called a meteorite. Recent studies have shown that some of the meteorites are fragments of the Moon or of Mars, while others originate between planets Mars and Jupiter.

Eight meteorites and 4 meteor records are known from Romania (the oldest one from 1692). Samples were preserved from only 7 falls, the largest (and best-known worldwide) being that from Mociu - the official name of the meteorite is Mocs - Cluj district (date of the fall: February 3rd, 1882). The largest fragment from the Mociu meteorite (35.7 kg) is on display (photo), as well as samples from other 5 Romanian meteorites besides many foreign ones.

The whole collection (230 precious stones and gemstones, mainly cut) is on display in its original 19th century cabinet (photo) in the second room and it represents one of the main general attractions. On display there is a large variety of minerals used as gemstones, besides synthetic materials (glass, synthetic spinel) and organic matter (coral, pearls). Among the precious stones one can admire diamond, sapphires and rubies (from India, Sri Lanka, USA), and emeralds (Brazil). The gem varieties of garnets, tourmaline, quartz (amethyst, citrine, rock crystal, agate etc.) and opal (precious opal, fire opal), spinels, turquoise complete the display.

The Romanian gems collection (3,500 gemstones and ornamental rocks, of which about 1200 on display, most of them cabochons) is located in two showcases. The specimens are grouped on panels, according to regional and mineralogical criteria. The collection is the most complete and diverse one in Romania. It was put together in 1987 based on materials collected over decades by Dr. Virgil Ghiurca, Prof. Ioan Marza, Prof. Ioan Bedelean and Prof. Lucretia Ghergari, all members of the staff of the Geology Department of the Babes-Bolyai University. The collection brings together minerals and rocks from more than 90 localities in Romania. The majority are represented by quartz varieties (including chalcedony) and opal, but also less common gemological materials.

This collection is completed by the display Transylvanian gemstones and ornamental rocks exhibited at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, 1900 consisting of limestones and marbles (35 polished slides), banded calcite (onyx marble) from Corund, Harghita district (carbonate crusts formed from teletermal sources, of a Pliocene age), as well as several gem varieties of chalcedony and opal (39 polished slides).

Eighteen mineral species that have Romanian type localities are grouped in this collection (that contains 40 specimens). Most of them are rare minerals (e.g. tellurium, sylvanite, nagyagite, krennerite, petzite, fizelyite, fuloppite, semseyite, andorite, and tellurite).

The radioactive minerals collection (200 specimens) is not on display.

Other exhibits located in the second room of the museum:

Zeolites from the Apuseni Mountains, Romania - collected in the 1980s by Prof. Ioan Bedelean from the Department of Mineralogy, the samples being the result of his doctoral thesis. It consists of seven types of zeolites of magmatic origin hosted by granodiorites, andesite etc. from various occurrences.

Peridotitic nodules from the Eastern Carpathians, Romania - the collection was set up by Prof. Dr. Ioan Marza in the 1990s. The mineral association in this peculiar rock type (spinel-rich lherzolite) is represented by olivine, pyroxenes and spinels that form nodules within the basalts in Racos - Hoghiz area (Brasov district). These nodules were generated at great depth, in the mantle. The largest nodule in the collection weights 5.9 kg.

Twin crystals collection - was created mainly as a display to be used for teaching purposes. It consists of more than 30 specimens presenting twin crystals (symmetric intergrowth of the same species). Typical contact twins of rutile, cassiterite, gypsum, calcite, augite, titanite, albite, orthoclase etc., penetration twins of arsenopyrite, staurolite, pyrite, fluorite, quartz, sphalerite, tetrahedrite etc, or multiple twins of aragonite, chrysoberyl, bournonite are exhibited.

Cave minerals - the exhibition consisting of 30 specimens of minerals from Romanian caves, some of them very rare (first occurrence in cave environments, species first mentioned in Romania, rare crystallographic appearances etc.) resulted from the collaboration with the team co-ordinated by Prof. Dr. Bogdan P. Onac from the Department of Mineralogy (New acquisitions 2003).

Fluorescent minerals - about 50 specimens on display under UV light.

The crystallography collection (750 specimens) is located in showcases along the hall of the Department of Mineralogy. It groups natural crystals and moulds arranged according to the systematics of geometrical crystallography. This section is completed by the exhibits Physical properties of minerals and an abridged version of the Mineral systematics (about 500 specimens in total).

In the same hall, the Valeriu Lucca ore deposits collection exhibits ore specimens and ore minerals (the metallic ones dominate) from Romania and abroad. The ore deposits are grouped according to genetic criteria: orthomagmatic, pegmatitic, pyrometasomatic, hydrothermal, metamorphogene, residual.