Museum/Mineral exhib

The Smithsonian Institute's "National Gem and Mineral Collection" is one of the greatest collections of its kind in the world. Over 375,000 individual specimens include such famous pieces as the Hope Diamond and the Star of Asia Sapphire, plus a research mineral collection in constant demand by scientists all over the world. ^recommended!

The Mineral Sciences collections include minerals, rocks, meteorites, gems, and related synthetic materials. In overall significance the mineral collection probably ranks 4th in the United States and it is the most important west of Washington, D.C. The gem collection ranks 3rd in the country after those at the National Museum of Natural History and the American Museum of Natural History. Besides a fine worldwide representation the greatest strengths of the mineral collection are minerals from California, native gold, and gem crystals. ^recommended!

University of Exeter, Camborne School of Mines VIRTUAL museum. 

University of Cambridge's museum displaying some of the finest specimens from their collection of more than 40000 minerals and gemstones from around the world. Open all year long (see site for opening hours) and admission is free. 

General Masters Degree for Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry. This site also contains photos of exhibits & mineral specimans and information in English from their mineralogical museum (i.e. Mineralogical Museum of the University of Hamburg). Also included is an extensive "Type Specimen Catalogue". 

Mineralogy and Petrology courses. In September 2005, Edinburgh University was ranked as 4th in UK, 38th in world, and one of highest climbers for University science. A global survey by the Times Higher Education Supplement places the University of Edinburgh 38th in the world, and 4th in the UK (after Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial) for scientific research. They also house the Cockburn Museum on campus. It contains a fine mineral collection donated by Dr. James Currie in 1931. 

Crystallography & Mineralogy, Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology, Mineral Deposit Geology. They have consistently ranked in the top 15 UK Geology departments by The Times. Also included are specialist facilities including an underground mine and world-class analytical mineralogy laboratories and merit scholarships of £2,000 per year. CSM also hosts an online virtual museum on their website (visit our Virtual Library Museum section if you cannot find it on their website). 

The Earth Science department at Cambridge University offers two degree options - a three-year BA and a four-year MSci - as part of the Natural Sciences programme. Courses include mineralogy, geochemistry, and petrology. Click on Teaching and choose Mineral Sciences. They also have a museum called the "Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences" that features mineral specimens, gemstones and semi-precious stones from around the world.