CATALO&UE 
OF 
THE MINERAL COLLECTIONS. 
Extensive collections of minerals are generally formed and arranged 
for one of two purposes, either to represent as a branch of natural 
history the whole series of natural inorganic substances which possess 
a definite composition, and which collectively constitute the mineral 
kingdom; or to exhibit those minerals in particular which are capable 
of application to arts and manufactures. These diverse objects require 
no less a different selection of the specimens than a different grouping 
and ordering, to adapt them fully to the end in view. 
The first or purely scientific treatment of the subject is carried out 
in the fine collections of the British Museum, where a iihilosophical 
arrangement of the various substances is adopted, based upon their 
natural affinities, without regard to the circumstances which render one 
or the other of them useful to man. 
The second or more utilitarian principle has regulated the selection 
and the arrangement of the specimens in the Museum of Practical 
Geology. With this view, the substances from which the useful 
metals are obtainable, the ores,” are separated from those of an earthy, 
stony, or sparry character, which are not so available, but may be 
utilized for other purposes, or which are important to the geological 
student in the study of rocks. 
Moreover, numerous specimens, which would not be admissible in a 
purely mineralogical cabinet, are extremely valuable in teaching the 
mode of occurrence of such substances in nature, and form a legitimate 
appendix to the foregoing in an institution especially devoted to the 
furtherance of practical geology. 
The mineral specimens in the Museum have been selected principally 
as examples of the productions of certain localities, and in illustration 
of their applicability to useful purposes. They are placed in the series 
of wall-cases around the main floor, and in the horse-shoe case occu¬ 
pying a chief part of the central area. 
With the view of adapting them specially to the convenience of those 
persons who desire to study the minerals with reference to their occur¬ 
rence or applicatians, they are divided into five distinct series or 
suites, as follows :— 
1st. The metallic minerals or ores of Great Britain (Cases 1—14, 
and 43—56). 
2nd. The analogous ores of various foreign countries (Cases 15—23). 
3rd. Mineral productions of British Colonies (Cases 37—42). 
4th. Illustrations of the nature of mineral veins ^ or lodes (Cases 
24—36). 
6399. 
A 
