HANNOVER/BERLIN: The Geoscientific Collections of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources and the State Authority for Mining, Energy and Geology in Hannover and Berlin

Abstract

The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) keeps a collection in cooperation with the State Authority for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG), at the head office in Hanover and at its branch office in Berlin-Spandau. All kinds of geoscientific objects are stored in several thematic sections, of which the palaeontological part plays a major role. The collections are not open to the public, but may be used by scientists on site or through a national and international loan system.

The history of both collections is different. The Berlin part dates back to 1770 when the Berlin Mining Academy was established. 1934 a branch office of the Preußische Geologische Landesanstalt was founded in Hanover. This was the nucleus for the Hanover collection. From the very beginning, macro- and microfossils made up a major part of both collections.