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Text: Dana POP(Curator, Museum of Mineralogy)

Photos: Ferenc FORRAY(Lecturer, Department of Mineralogy)

This brochure has been published on the occasion of theanniversary of 90 years from the foundation

of the Romanian University in Cluj

Cluj-Napoca, 2009

UUNNIIVVEERRSS IITTAATTEEAA BBAABBEEŞŞ--BB OOLLYYAAII

“…I walked all the way through the park over to the Museum of Natural History. […] It always smelled like it was raining outside,

even if it wasn’t, and you were in the only nice,dry, cosy place in the world. I loved that damn museum.”

(J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye)

WELCOMEA geode is a natural formation, conceptually standing in the same way as Nat-

ural History museums in general, at the interface between science and general publicawareness.

Geologically, a geode represents a roughly spheroidal or ovoidal hollow bodywithin a rock that was subsequently and successively filled by various minerals. Inmost cases, minerals occur as well-defined, distinctive (“idiomorphic”) crystals ori-ented towards the centre of the geode. The inner cavity may remain empty; however,if mineral matter fills the whole geode it is called a “nodule”. The external walls ofa geode are often lined by concentric layers of various colours, usually consisting ofthe most widespread mineral in the Earth’s crust, i.e. quartz, as the microcrystallinevariety – chalcedony. Complex processes leading to geode formation are distinct andrepresent time capsules that accrue a complicated geological history over sometimeshundreds of millions of years.

For mineral collectors, the aesthetics of geodes bears a unique fascination, con-ferring on them a special status. The hollow space provides optimal crystallizationconditions, leading to the formation of some of the most perfect, large and trans-parent crystals in the mineral world. More than that, a geode looks like a mysteriousand primitive universe in miniature, a possible idealized model of our planet. Thename in Latin translates as “of the shape of the Earth”.

A geode represents a window to lost worlds and times, a protected nest insidewhich it seems it never rains…

GEODESMost geodes are several centimetres in size although there are famous excep-

tions. In Ohio, USA, such a cavity discovered in 1897 is 10 m in diameter. It was con-sidered to be the largest known geode in the world and was converted into its ownnatural museum – The Crystal Cave. Similar sizes (10 m in length, 5 m in width and3 m in depth; weighing 32 t) have been recorded of some of the most well known

geodes that have been found in basalts in Brazil with an inside lining of amethyst

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TTHHEE MMUUSSEEUUMM OOFF MMIINNEERRAALLOOGGYY

crystals (violet quartz), sometimes covered by white calcite, and an externalcrust of green clay (celadonite). Occasionally between the amethyst and the green

crust there are layers of greyish-bluish chalcedony.The most famous mineral specimens on display in the big museums and private

collections worldwide usually consist of planar fragments (“druses”) of the walls ofsuch large geodes. These have been discovered on the surface, but in most cases inunderground mines. In Romania, this type of mineral aggregate is poetically called a“mine flower”. Even if, genetically, druses belong to the same category as geodes,the quasi-parallel orientation of the crystals in this case is not reminiscent of the pe-culiar spheroidal morphology of the originary geode.

The Museum of Mineralogy is one of the most spectacular and popular amongthe seven academic museums of the Babeş-Bolyai University. As a whole, the museumspace, filled-up with mineral specimens, can be imagined as a huge geode where timeseems to have reverted to the geological scale. Let’s discover together the successive“layers” that compose this most hospitable geode that is the Museum of Mineralogy,located right in the heart of Cluj-Napoca.

If you’ve not already visited us, we hope that this presentation as well as thepictures of some spectacular geodes and druses in our museum will challenge you tobecome our guests, soon. Both the shine of the subterranean adornments and thewarmth of the hosts’ heart will gladly welcome you!

BRIEF MINERALOGICAL HISTORY In Cluj, the beginnings of the mineralogy collection, as well as those of pale-

ontology, zoology and botany are related to the Transylvanian Museum (ErdélyiMúzeum) that was founded in 1859. After the establishment of the Franz Josef Uni-versity (1872), these collections supported teaching in the Faculty of Sciences; in par-ticular, the mineralogy collection had played an important role in the foundation ofa Department of Mineralogy under the leadership of the renowned professor J.Szádeczky. In 1900, parts of these collections, including the minerals, were transferredto the newly-built Central Building of the University (currently located on M.Kogălniceanu St., No. 1). The Museum of Mineralogy of the Babeş-Bolyai University,now part of the Department of Mineralogy of the Faculty of Biology and Geology,turned into an academic, non-independent collection in1919, when the RomanianUniversity “Regele Ferdinand” was founded in Cluj. The new Department and Insti-tute of Mineralogy-Petrography were organised by the internationally-acknowledgedscientist Gh. Munteanu-Murgoci, supported by the eminent Professor Victor Stanciu.Prof. Eugen Stoicovici and Prof. Valeriu Lucca were other famous teachers and re-searchers that have contributed to the mineralogical teaching collections. Through

these continuous efforts, the original collection has been continuously en-

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riched and diversified. Currently, the collections contain more than 16,500specimens. Permanent collaboration between the museum and the Department

of Mineralogy represented an invaluable opportunity for acquiring samples of highscientific value accompanied by detailed documentation.

At the beginning, no specialized staff in museum curation existed. Usuallyyoung academic staff members undertook the responsibilities related to the “Didacticcollection of minerals and rocks” for relatively short periods of time (Veturia Lucca1924-1925, Gheorghe Pop 1940-1941, Vasile Crăciun 1941-1943. In 1965, the posi-tion of geologist/museum curator was instigated for the Museum of Mineralogy.Later (1975) it became that of museologist. From that point on, the teaching collec-tions were systematically inventoried and re-organized, being transformed into a mu-seum proper. The enthusiastic person that undertook these changes until herretirement in 1989 was Iulia Ţârlea-Hoţiu.

In 2002, at the initiative of the Rector of the Babeş-Bolyai University, the Mu-seum of Mineralogy opened to the public. From that moment on, in parallel with agradual increase of the number of visitors (currently more than 700 annually, ofwhich about 85 % are organized groups of pupils and students), the museum wascommitted to playing an active educational, formative and cultural role in the life ofthe institution and of the city in the heart of which it is located.

THE MAIN COLLECTIONSAt present, the museum houses more than 16,500 samples (about 12,500 min-

erals, more than 3700 cut gems and 200 meteorites) grouped into several collections,according to systematic, geographic and thematic criteria. The permanent exhibitsare on display in the two galleries of the museum; additionally, the CrystallographyCollection occupies some of the showcases along the hall of the Department ofMineralogy. About 8000 specimens (59 showcases) are on display in the museum area(126 m2).

Among the highlights of the museum are:The only meteorite collection in Romania A valuable gold collection, the third in the country in number of samples and

mineralogical diversity Cut gem collection (precious stones and gemstones), among the largest and

most diverse in RomaniaThe largest number of mineral species in a systematic display in a Romanian

museumA great variety of mineralogically significant localities from Romania and

from all over the world is represented in the collections.

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The systematic collection of minerals The first gallery of the museum houses almost 10,000 specimens of which

about 4,500 are displayed. The 36 showcases show species of the 9 mineral classesfollowing the widely recognized European system of the German mineralogist H.Strunz.

The collection illustrates more than 700 distinctive mineral species (about 850entries, including varieties) collected from Romania or from abroad, from a widerange of significant geological occurrences; these attributes qualify it as the richestscientific mineralogical collection in Romania. Additionally, several representative syn-thetic materials complete the diversity spectrum.

An important gold collection (450 specimens), the third in the country accord-ing to size and variety after the Gold Museum in Brad and the collection of the Nat-ural History Museum of the Brukenthal National Museum in Sibiu, is part of thesystematic display. The gold collection from Cluj is dominated by samples from RoşiaMontană, a famous mining locality in the “Gold Quadrangle” of the Apuseni Moun-tains, which has produced gold for more than 2000 years.

35 new mineral species (from a current number of about 4,400) have been de-scribed for the first time in the literature from Romanian localities. The systematiccollection includes 18 of them, some being very rare: native tellurium, gold and silvertellurides (hessite, sylvanite, nagyágite, krennerite, and petzite), fizelyite, fülöppite,semseyite, andorite, and tellurite. Other rare samples of borates, phosphates and sil-icates contribute to the scientific value of this collection.

Minerals from Romania This is a regional collection, about 1,500 samples, from the main mining centres

in Baia Mare area, Banat, and Apuseni Mountains. These localities are well-known tomineral curators and collectors worldwide due to the impressive number of spectac-ular well-crystallized specimens (“mine flowers”) they have provided during centuriesof mining activities. Some representative scientific publications on the mineralogyof Europe and of the world have focused on species and mineral assemblages col-lected from these occurrences.

With minerals from the Maramureş area, our collection represents a first en-counter and an invitation for getting more familiar with the mineral potential of thearea by visiting the complete and impressive collection of the Museum of Mineralogyin Baia Mare.

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The Romanian gem collection Illustrating the great natural gemmological potential of Romania are 33 va-

rieties of minerals and rocks from 98 localities. Some are raw gemstones and otherscut into more than 3,500 cabochons. The main gem material in Romania is repre-sented by varieties of quartz including chalcedony and opal. The collection is valuabledue to its richness and completeness.

On a European scale, the most well-known Romanian gemstones are the bluechalcedony from Trestia (Maramureş County) used since antiquity for cuttingcameos, and amber , “the tear of the Gods”, in its variety called “romanite” fromColţi (Buzău County).

The gem collection (precious stones and gemstones) This comprises 250 cut stones or cabochons of diamond, beryl varieties (emer-

ald, aquamarine), corundum (ruby, sapphire), tourmaline, topaz, zircon, turquoise,garnets, quartz (amethysts, citrine, chalcedony etc.), opal (precious opal, fire opal) andothers. In Romania, this collection is one of the largest and most diverse gem exhibitsof international relevance.

The meteorite collectionThis is the largest one in Romania and, due to its variety, the only systematic

collection of its type in the country. The collection consists of more than 200 spec-imens of stony, stony-iron and iron meteorites, as well as tektites and pseudomete-orites from all over the world. The core of the collection is represented by over 60fragments of the Mocs stony meteorite that fell in 1882 in the surroundings of Mociucommune (Cluj County). The largest fragment of this fall is housed in our collection;it is 35.7 kg in weight (35 x 25 x 28 cm).

Recently, donations of several private collectors from Romania and from abroadhave enriched and diversified the collection with northwest Africa specimens. This“hot desert” has produced in the last three decades large amounts of such extra-ter-restrial materials of high scientific value. Meteorites are among the only tangible wit-nesses of the pre-geological evolution of the Solar System and of the Earth.

For those who are already familiar with the museum, a reason for a new visitcould be the exhibit of the New Acquisitions, periodically updated in the secondgallery of the museum.

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TEMPORARY EXHIBITS The first temporary exhibits (1996-2003) of the Museum of Mineralogy

were connected to a novel event in Romania generated in Cluj, i.e. the first editionsof the Minerals, Fossils and Gems Show organized by the Association of AmateurMineralogists, Paleontologists and Gemologists of Romania (A.M.P.G.A.R.) due tothe enthusiastic initiative and the direct co-ordination of Prof. Virgil Ghiurcă. TheA.M.P.G.A.R. Shows have become the ideal framework for gathering together mu-seum personnel and mineral fans with the goal of a better understanding of minerals,of their role in natural systems and in the life of mankind. Among the topics of theseexhibits one can mention: Ornamental minerals and rocks (1996); Minerals from the EasternCarpathians (1997); Minerals from Canada (1997); Gems (1998); Living minerals (1999);The shape of crystals (2000); Minerals from Brazil (2000); New acquisitions in the Museum ofMineralogy – 1996–2001 (2001); Personal exhibit Prof. Valeriu Lucca (2001, in collabora-tion with Prof. Ioan Mârza); Salt - a daily miracle (2002) and Diamonds, “diamonds” and…«“diamonds”» (2003).

Several temporary exhibits have been set-up in collaboration with other muse-ums from Romania, especially with the National Museum of the History of Transyl-vania, Cluj-Napoca: Gem minerals and cut gems (1996); Metallurgy in the Pre- and Protohistoryof Romania (1996); Silver processing during the Dacian times (2002).

The Museum of Mineralogy was also a contributor to several temporary ex-hibits organised by other Romanian museums: The gold of Transylvania (Museum ofMineralogy, Baia Mare: 2003-2004), gems exhibitions (Mureş County Museum andMuseum Complex Arad).

Recently, inside the main museum, space has been dedicated exclusively to tem-porary thematic exhibits. The most recent such exhibits concerned: Twin crystals(2002), Minerals and human health (2003), Museum as a place for preserving the results of themineralogical research of the Department of Mineralogy (2004).

Starting with 2008, the Museum of Mineralogy has become an official partnerof the “The European Night of Museums”, a cultural event on a continental scalethat provides better opportunities for getting familiar with museums. In this frame-work, on May 17, 2008 the temporary exhibition “Our daily minerals” was opened. Wehope that our involvement in this European joint effort becomes a tradition, and weinvite all of you to suggest to us topics for new exhibits and related educational ac-tivities that you would find interesting.

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MUSEUM ACTIVITIES In spite of limited space and staff, the Museum of Mineralogy has been

constantly promoting various activities that cover all types of museum functions: sci-entific, educational and cultural.

As far as scientific research is concerned, the museum represents a uniquesource for documenting theoretical and applied comparative studies: museum samplesare undergoing specific investigations for several national research projects (studyof Romanian gold related to gold items provenance, investigation of Romanian me-teorites, characterisation of Romanian minerals of special significance by using mod-ern analytical methods) or as independent research topics, in collaboration with theDepartment of Mineralogy of the Babeş-Bolyai University.

Additionally, the museum collaborates with similar institutions and mineral col-lectors from Romania and abroad (Hungary, Austria, Great Britain, Canada, Brazil,Australia etc.) concerning exchanges of rare mineral samples that contribute to theenrichment, diversification and scientific value of the existing collections. At the sametime, the museum staff are involved in national and international research and edu-cational projects, as well as in the organisation of mineralogical meetings at nationaland international level. All these aspects contribute to an increased awareness and ac-knowledgement of the Museum of Mineralogy worldwide.

Educational activities, especially focused on the young (pupils, students) areour priority and the reason for the existence of our museum. For this purpose edu-cational projects have been designed, particularly for different age groups and learninginterests.

Systematically, and already in a traditional way, the museum is visited by studentsof various faculties within the Babeş-Bolyai University. Besides geology students, forwhom the museum is a starting and a recurrent place for study and research, studentsfrom the faculties of Environmental Science, Geography, Chemistry and ChemicalEngineering, Physics, Mathematics and Informatics, History and Philosophy havebeen guests of our museum. Moreover, students from other universities in Cluj-Napoca, such as the Technical University, the University for Agricultural Sciencesand Veterinary Medicine and the University of Arts and Design visit the collectionseach year, many of them finding here subjects for further studies, or artistic inspira-tion. For each target group, there are specially-designed guided tours. Interested stu-dents may become involved in voluntary museum activities that support theirprofessional development in an informal, extra-curricular framework.

However, the largest number of visitors since the official opening of the

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museum to the public (in 2002) is represented by pupils from the secondaryand primary schools in Cluj and its surroundings. For this main sector of visitors,

several specific educational projects have been designed. These are intended to trans-form museum visits into interactive and dynamic events leading to increasing interestof young people in minerals and rocks, and for natural sciences in general. Also, inparallel with a deeper understanding of the scientific content on behalf of the pupils,the teachers are supported with worksheets, etc. for the museum activity. Among theseprojects are: Thematic visits, according to the curriculum requirements; “Treasure search”(10-14 years old); Quiz-test (14-18 years old); “Top-10” of the museum samples (14-18years old); Case studies (14-18 years old); True or false in the minerals, gems and rocks world(14-18 years old); Debates on various topics (e.g. “Natural resources: a threat or a blessing?”,14-18 years old); Trends in mineralogical research & development (14-18 years old and stu-dents).

Details on these educational projects are included on the museum’s home-page; you could also use the contact data for suggestions and planning of futuremuseum activities: http://bioge.ubbcluj.ro/MuzeuMin/.

At the same time, the Museum of Mineralogy is part of the cultural heritageof Cluj-Napoca, due to its scientific value at regional and national scale. The museumis open to all categories of visitors to the town.

HOW TO BECOME PART OF THE MUSEUM’S HISTORY In spite of limited financial resources, the Museum of Mineralogy has increased

its collection year by year through collecting campaigns in the field, donations, ex-changes, or revision of old, unregistered material. In this respect, the museum benefitsfrom the expertise of the academic staff of the Department of Mineralogy, of col-leagues from other museums and universities from Romania or from abroad, as wellas of amateur mineral collectors.

One of the main accessioning procedures is by the acceptance of donations ofminerals or specialised documents. The owners of items that have museum value who de-cide to donate them are awarded a “Donor diploma”, while their name is recordedin the museum’s catalogue together with that of the specimen. Given the museum’sreputation and legacy, the donation itself becomes part of the history of this insti-tution.

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PRACTICAL CO-ORDINATES The Museum of Mineralogy, “the geode in the heart of Cluj” is located in

the Main building of the Babeş-Bolyai University (1, M. Kogălniceanu St.), close tothe central square (Piaţa Unirii). The access is through the main entrance to the build-ing, then left from the ground floor main hall (via the entrance to the Department ofMineralogy).

Open: Tuesday–Friday, 11.00–14.00

Guided tours (in English) for groups (minimum six persons) may be scheduled,also at other times based on prior booking by phone: +40 264 405300 ext. 5121 orby email:

dana.pop@ ubbcluj.roThe museum may be occasionally closed to the public (in August and for

shorter times at other periods). To avoid any inconvenience planning your visit inadvance is strongly recommended!

Contact data:Curator: Dr. Dana PopMuseum of Mineralogy, Babeş-Bolyai University1, M. Kogălniceanu St.,Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaTel: +40 264 405300 ext. 5121

Fax: +40 264 591906E-mail: dana.pop@ ubbcluj.ro

http://bioge.ubbcluj.ro/MuzeuMin/

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Glossary of geode-related terms:

Amygdule: a small (mm–cm) void - originally a gas bubble - in igneous, espe-cially volcanic rocks (basalts) completely filled with secondary minerals such as zeolite,calcite, or quartz.

Concretion: a rounded (spherical or ellipsoidal) mass (mm–m), as a rule con-sisting of microcrystalline mineral matter with granular - concentric or radial – struc-ture resulted by precipitation and cementation in the pore spaces of the sediment,usually around a fossil or fossil fragment acting as a nucleus. Most typical host rocksare: sedimentary, volcanic tuffs.

Druse: a divergent or parallel aggregate of crystals on a rock base; can be re-garded as a planar fragment of a geode.

Enhydros: a variety of chalcedony (microcrystalline quartz) nodule containingfluid inclusions (water).

Floater or “loner”: a loose crystal with no point of attachment to the substratepresumably formed in an empty space in the host rock.

Geode: a general term for hollow, usually spheroidal geological formations oc-curring in sedimentary and certain volcanic rocks. Essentially they are rock cavitiesor vugs fully or partly filled with well-defined individual crystals and/or microcrys-talline concentric bands lining the inside wall.

Lithophysa or “Thunder egg”: rough spheres (cm–m), nodule-like structureformed within rhyolitic lava flows (or rarely obsidian, volcanic tuff). The outer surfaceconsists of an irregular crust, while inwards individual mineral bandings (mostly silicavarieties like quartz, common chalcedony or agate, or opal) reveal intricate patternsand colours, as a rule star-shaped.

Miarole: small (mm–cm) interior bodies within igneous rocks, in general withangular outlines, only partly filled with secondary minerals; these crystal-linen mayshow internal zonal and centripetal disposition inwards. Miarolitic structures probablyrepresent local concentration of gases during very late stages in consolidation of the

host rocks.

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Nodule: a small (cm–m), rounded or elongated lump of a mineral or mix-ture of minerals in general lacking internal structure, usually having a knobby irregularsurface and being harder than the surrounding rock or sediment (in general lime-stones), from which thus they may be easily separated. Nodules may be oriented par-allel to the bedding, when concentrated in individual beds, or aleatory distributedwithin the host rock.

Septarian concretion or septarian nodule: a spheroidal, calcareous- or clayey-rich concretion containing angular cavities or cracks, which are called “septaria”.The word comes from the Latin word septum=”partition”, and refers to the internalirregular polygonal cracks/separations usually filled with calcite or quartz, resultingin a polychromatic material.

Vug (from the Cornish: ”vooga” = cave): a small (cm) irregular cavity of tectonicorigin, or resulted by the removal of material such as soluble minerals, often showingcentripetal or zonal linings of „exotic” minerals, i.e. of different composition fromthat of the surrounding rock (the latter most often represented by dolomites, lime-stones, marbles).

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PPHHOOTTOOGGAALLLLEERRYY

Druse with sulphur. Girgenti, Italy (MMBBU#25/21)

Thunder egg of amethyst and chalcedony (var. of quartz). Mt. Hay, Australia(MMBBU#480/239)

Concretion of marcasite. Illinois, USA (MMBBU#227/23)

Geode with amethyst and chalcedony (var. of quartz). Unknown locality(MMBBU#210/4)

Vug with agate (var. of quartz). Răchişel, Romania (MMBBU#480/183)

Thunder egg of agate (var. of quartz). Căpuş, Romania (MMBBU#480/246)

Vug with malachite crystals. Betzdorf, Germany (MMBBU#688/24)

Geode with celestine. Bristol, UK (MMBBU#864/11)

Vug with aragonite and malachite. Schwaz, Austria (MMBBU#675/42)

Vug with azurite. Marsberg, Germany (MMBBU#687/16)

Miaroles and amygdules of fire opal in rhyolite. Simav, Turkey(MMBBU#480/28)

Geode of agate (var. of quartz) and quartz. Oberstein, Germany(MMBBU#480/202)

Druse with chabasite on marcasite. Crişcior, Romania (MMBBU#1964/2)

Geode of onyx (var. of quartz) and quartz. Turnov, Czech Republic(MMBBU#480/201)

Vug with azurite. Moldova Nouă, Romania (MMBBU#687/6)

Enhydros of chalcedony (var. of quartz). Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil(MMBBU#480/242)

Druse of amethyst. Vălişoara, Romania (MMBBU#471/79)

Amygdules of mesolite in diabase. Puy-de-Dôme, France (MMBBU#1941/3)

Druse of chrysocolla. Nizhnii Tagil, Russia (MMBBU#1672/4)

Vug with malachite. L’ubietová, Slovakia (MMBBU#688/28)

Nodules of olivine and feldspars in basalt. Mateiaş, Romania(MMBBU#1444/11)

Druse of amethyst. Ocna de Fier, Romania (MMBBU#471/130)

Vug with azurite and malachite. Bisbee, USA (MMBBU#687/21)

Geode with onyx (var. of quartz). Brad, Romania (MMBBU#480/232)

Amethyst crystal from a druse. Vălişoara, Romania (MMBBU#471/84)

Druse of halite. Ocna Mureş, Romania (MMBBU#256/34)

Malachite crusts, fragment of a vug. Nizhnii Tagil, Russia (MMBBU#688/28)

Amygdules of opal. Čižkovice, Czech Republic (MMBBU#480/41)

Vug with calcite on goethite. Příbram, Czech Republic (MMBBU#589/5)

Geode of quartz. Illinois, USA (MMBBU#471/44)

Vug with azurite on smithsonite. Utah, USA (MMBBU#687/25)

Floater quartz crystal in carbonatic septarian concretion. Isère, France(MMBBU#471/135)

Vug with chalcedony (var. of quartz). Techereu, Romania (MMBBU#210/1050)

Thunder egg of precious, “harlequin”-type opal. Mezezo, Ethiopia(MMBBU#480/247)

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largest known geode

external walls ofa geode