Museum Collections as Geoheritage

Abstract

Geoheritage is the key source of evidence on which the geosciences are founded and geoconservation aims to protect that heritage. There are two main classes of geoheritage: in-situ geoheritage represented mainly by geosites and ex-situ geoheritage represented by collections of specimens such as in museums. Although they may seem conceptually different, in-situ and ex-situ geoheritage serve essentially the same function, to provide the empirical foundations of the geosciences. Geoconservation of both types of geoheritage is therefore vital for the continued successful development of the geosciences, allowing research models to be tested and verified, providing resources for formal education, and improving the public understanding of the subject.