Geoscientific Collections

Geosphere Austria’s historical collections of fossils, minerals, rocks and sediment cores are of high scientific relevance.

Collections of fossils, minerals, rocks and drill cores

  • Of interest to: Scientists and researchers in the field of geosciences (particularly palaeontology).
  • Price: The collections can be visited as part of research work. The visit is free of charge. Please note that a visit is only possible by prior appointment.
  • Contact: collections@geosphere.at

At GeoSphere Austria, we are proud to service one of the most significant palaeontological collections in the country, comprising about 160,000 datasets, as well as an estimated number of over a million individual fossils.

These fossils represent an extraordinary diversity of taxa, ranging from protists (e.g., Foraminifera) to plants and animals (both vertebrates and invertebrates), and span geological periods from the Cambrian to the Quaternary (approximately 541 million years to recent). Among these, approximately 26,000 specimens are type material, underscoring the collection’s invaluable scientific importance.

Our palaeozoological collection features samples collected and described by renowned Austrian geologists and palaeontologists, including Franz von Hauer, Rudolph Hoernes, Melchior Neumayr, and Edmund von Mojsisovics. The historical plant fossil collections are equally remarkable, containing specimens collected by prominent scientists such as Constantin von Ettingshausen, Franz Unger, and Dionys Stur. These pioneers shaped the history of Austrian palaeontology and geology, making lasting contributions to the field both nationally and internationally. The collection also includes a specialised microfossil section comprising 18,700 specimens of Foraminifera and other microfossils, offering insights into microscopic life across geological time.

In addition to its extensive fossil holdings, GeoSphere Austria also preserves an impressive array of geological and mineralogical specimens. The collection includes 7,500 mineral samples, 25,000 rock samples, and 441 drill cores, representing 16 kilometres of core length. Furthermore, it houses uncountable sediment residue samples from sample processing.

The entire collection includes specimens from key geological sites across Austria, the former crown lands and worldwide, including Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, USA, Iran, Nigeria, Ireland, and many others, making GeoSphere Austria an important reference point and resource for scientists around the world.