Not many are aware of a stone museum, set up by the Mines and Geology department, which is a stone’s throw away from the Vidhana Soudha.
In a bid to make the people aware of the various types of stones discovered or mined in Karnataka, the department is out to put the recently-launched museum on Karnataka tourism map.
The museum houses samples of precious and semi-precious stones found naturally or mined in Karnataka and other states.
Over 500 stone samples are kept in the museum set up in Khanija Bhavan.
The museum is a treasure trove of knowledge for all, especially students, and researchers. But unfortunately not many are aware of it. So, the department is planning to get this included on the tourism map of Karnataka, Rajendra Kumar Kataria, Secretary, Mines and MSMR, Commerce and Industry department told DH.
According to Mines and Geology officials, “Collection of samples started from 1894 when the department was incepted. The officials of the department during their visit to sites, would collect samples and store them. The department set up a museum and to house the stones discovered or mined over the years. Mines and Geology Minister Rajashekhar B Patil inaugurated it recently.”
“We always had a small museum but it was not made public. It was kept for reference of officials and other departments. We have also purchased some samples from Alminrock Indseer Fabricks, Bengaluru,” a museum in-charge official said.
This is the only museum owned and maintained by the Mines and Geology department. Similar such museums are being managed by Geological Survey of India and by Bangalore University.