Minéralogie
Les collections de minéralogie de l’Université de Liège comprennent plus de 20 000 échantillons d’intérêt scientifique ou historique, avec notamment d’importantes collections de phosphates et de minéraux de Belgique.
The collections of the Laboratory of Mineralogy
The collections of the Laboratory of Mineralogy and Crystallochemistry of ULiège include more than 20,000 mineral samples, coming from Belgium as well as from international locations. Most of the pieces were collected by the mineralogists of Liège or were acquired during the 200 years of existence of this collection. They therefore retrace the history and evolution of mineralogy in Liege since the beginning of the 19th century.
Today, the collection continues to grow thanks to new samples collected in the field, purchased at mineral markets or from generous donations.
Available for Research and Teaching
The minerals in the collection are primarily used for teaching purposes, as part of the practical work and dissertations done by geology students. They also constitute an inexhaustible source of material for scientific studies. The phosphate collection, in particular, is one of the most complete in the world. It contains more than ten type samples, i.e. minerals that were originally studied when the species was discovered.
An Important Role in our Modern Societies
Minerals are an inexhaustible source of new materials, used by solid-state chemists to help develop modern technologies. A concrete example: the lithium batteries used in electric cars are made of compounds with a triphylite structure, which has always been known in the particular rocks called "pegmatites". Thus, the role of mineralogy is central in our modern societies, as minerals contain all the rare metals we need. The collection of the Mineralogy Laboratory is here, too, to remind us of this.
