Museu do Quartzo, Geology museum in Monte de Santa Luzia, Viseu, Portugal.
Museu do Quartzo is a geology museum located on the site of a former quartz extraction crater in Monte de Santa Luzia. The building uses this natural geological setting to present mineral collections and exhibitions about Earth sciences.
From 1961 to 1986, the Portuguese Electric Furnaces Company operated a quartz extraction site here. After mining ceased, the location was transformed into a museum to preserve the region's industrial past.
The museum displays how quartz shaped local industry and daily life, connecting mineral collections with stories about Portuguese match production. Visitors encounter exhibits that explain how stone extracted from the mountain influenced the region.
The museum is open to visitors year-round with free admission. It is helpful to check opening hours before your visit, as schedules may vary between seasons.
This is the only museum worldwide dedicated exclusively to quartz minerals, featuring interactive exhibits on geology and natural history. Visitors can discover how this stone shaped an entire industrial region.
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