![]() ![]() Cooperation with Duke University (U.S.A.), Toronto and Milano Geological Museums (Italy), The Museum of Natural History in London (U.K.) are good examples. Joint researches and cooperation with other international geological surveys, universities and museums are among the major concerns of the Museum. The Museum shares in the studies conducted on the protectorates and outstanding geological features in order to raise the public environmental awareness. Models for rare vertebrate fossils are made to facilitate detailed studies and preserve the original specimens. The Museum also includes some specialized laboratories for mineralogical, petrological and paleontological (both vertebrate and invertebrate) studies. ![]() These are available to the public and scientists. The Museum is served by a library with references that date as far back as 1778, in addition to up to date references and bibliographies. These include the famous Egyptian meteorite Nakhlite believed to be from Mars. In addition, a very valuable collection of meteorites discovered in Egypt and from other places in the world are displayed. ![]() There is also the unique collection of the Fayoum vertebrate fossils on display and of course, a large collection of Egyptian and other minerals, ores and rocks. The geological history of Egypt as indicated by its fauna and flora is displayed in the Museum. Precious stones, especially turquoise, emerald and peridot, were gathered and turned into very pretty jewelry by the ancients. Egypt was also the first to produce famous types of glass. These were used in decorating palaces all over the Roman Empire. During the Ptolemaic and Byzantien periods, granite was quarried from Mons Claudianus, the Imperial Porphyry from Gabal Dokhan and the Breccia Verd from Wadi Hammamat. This added to the Egyptian power and prosperity. Iron was smelted from ores in Aswan and smelting was also carried out at Naukratis and Defna in the Delta region. The first geological map known to us was drawn to represent the Fawakhir gold mine on a papyrus in the Turin Museum. They were the first to discover gold and copper and mine them from the Eastern Desert and Sinai. Egyptians were the pioneers in extraction and utilization of metals and stones, the essential basics of civilization. Mining and metallurgy started many thousands of years ago, in predynastic times. The museum introduces visitors to Egyptian geology and history. The Egyptian archaeologist and former minister of antiquities Zahi Hawass said in a statement that this is “the greatest discovery in Egypt in the 21st century.The Egyptian Geological Museum was established and opened for the public in 1904, as a part of the Egyptian Geological Survey (EGS) founded earlier in 1896. It was used to make stonecutting instruments. Copper was mined just across the narrow sea and transported to Giza through this port. The researchers also discovered that the port of Wadi al-Jarf played an important role. The same type of boats might have also been used to transport the granite from Aswan. They were then rolled over on special tracks. Stone blocks were ferried across the Nile in a series of purpose-built canals that delivered them as close to the construction site as possible. Merer described how the limestone was taken from Tora on boats, one of which was uncovered at the foot of the pyramids. How the stone was transported to the site has long been a contentious point. It is currently 139 meters (455 feet) tall and made out of limestone quarried in Tora, across the river from Giza, and granite from Aswan, located over 800 kilometers (500 miles) south. It took 20 years to build on the plane of Giza and was finished in around 2560 BCE. The Great Pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the last to remain intact. ![]()
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