The main feature that sets natural history museums apart from other institutions is that they are custodians of large collections of biological and geological specimens, as well as cultural objects.
The Mineralogy, Petrology, Meteorite and Tektite Collection is a major natural history resource for scientific research, community education and public display. Many of the specimens represent localities no longer accessible. Others are the best ever found from their locality, and some rank among the best ever found world-wide. The collection is a public repository showing the widest range of species and localities, and also documents some of the best mineral specimens obtained from all periods of Australia's rich mining history. As such, it preserves part of Australia's natural heritage and mining history for future generations.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2004