Salim Edde has built up a collection of minerals since
1997 originating from a number of renowned collections,
both old and more recent, as well as from the major
mining discoveries of our era.
It
is now considered to be one of the world's paramount
private collections for the variety and quality of
its minerals.
In
order to share his passion with the greatest number
of people, he decided to create the mineral museum
in Beirut and called it Mim.
Mim
gets its name from the twenty-fourth letter of the
Arabic alphabet, the equivalent of the Latin letter
M, precisely because it is the first letter of the
Arabic words for museum, minerals and mines. Coincidentally,
the same words begin with the letter M in English
and in French.
The
museum exhibits more than 1500 minerals, representing
around 350 different species from over 60 countries.
Its
mission is to promote the historical, industrial and
economic but also aesthetic aspects of mineralogy
till now unknown in the world of museums, both in
Lebanon and in the Middle East.
ATRIUM
The
atrium which connects the different parts of the museum
is a meeting place also dedicated for special events.
5 columns stand there and form an ensemble that recalls
the entrance of an ancient temple. They are adorned
with display cases exhibiting some minerals, giving
the visitor a foretaste for its visit.
PENROSE
WALL
The
wall that separates the atrium from the treasure room
is named after the twentieth-century English mathematician
Roger Penrose. As a glimpse to the order so present
in crystals, it gives the illusion that it is in three
dimensions although the tiling is bi-dimensional.
INTERACTIVE
AREA
In
this space dedicated for educational and entertaining
activities, the visitor has access to the communication
of the museum using the new technology tools: giant
touch screen, computers…
AUDIOVISUAL
SPACE
Discover
the motivations of Salim Edde in collecting minerals
and the reasons why he decided to create a museum.
THE
CRYSTAL GALLERY
The Crystal Gallery hosts temporary exhibitions and
several cultural and social activities.
THE
OCTAHEDRON
The
octahedron shows a characteristic shape reminiscent
of a famous geometric pattern, that of the pyramids.
And rather than building a single octahedron, the
architect decided to construct a big one interwoven
with two smaller ones in order to simulate one of
the beautiful fluorites in the collection.
THE
9 CLASSES
9
mineral samples introduce you to the traditional chemical
classification proposed by the Swedish scientist Berzelius
(1779-1848). Discover in a visual animation the mineral
classification, their physical properties and the
story of the Russian scientist Dimitri Mendeleev.
On a touch screen you will uncover Mendeleev' table
and surf on its applications.
Class
1: Native element minerals and Alloys
Class 2: Sulfides and Sulphosalts
Class 3: Halides
Class 4: Oxides and Hydroxides
Class 5: Carbonates and Borates
Class 6: Sulfates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
Class 7: Phosphates, Vanadates, Arsenates
Class 8: Silicates
Class 9: Organic minerals
MINERALS
BY CLASS
More
than 900 minerals are exhibited according to their
chemical class. You will admire wonders of creation
that have formed without human intervention but, rather,
under the sole influence of temperature, pressure
and the incredibly complex work of water and especially
time.
Discover
the 9 chemical classes in a visual animation and get
detailed information about mim collection.
RADIOACTIVE
MINERALS
Even
if their radioactivity is without danger, these specimens
are exhibited in a secured room and the display cases
are equipped with vents that suck up the radon gas
generated by radioactivity and release it outside
the building, where it is dispersed in the air in
harmless quantities.
Find
out the story of radioactivity and nuclear fission
in a visual animation, and learn about the good but
also misuse of them.
TROPHIES
The layout of this showcase takes its inspiration
from the podiums in athletic competitions. Due to
their fame or rarity these specimens were most often
acquired after fierce bidding wars against determined
museums or collectors, hence their trophy status.
On
a touch screen, discover the story of the trophies,
learn about the criteria used by the collectors in
selecting the minerals and become better acquainted
with precious and semi-precious stones and gems.
TREASURE
One
can see here precious metals such as silver and gold
as well as rubies, topazes and emeralds, etc. specially
selected for their transparency, color and well expressed
geometric shapes. 21 elegant display columns allow
the visitor to admire their contents from every angle,
exactly as in a jewelry exhibition.
MINERALS
BY COUNTRY
The
minerals are distributed according to their country
and continent of origin.
7
countries weigh in for more than half of the collection's
samples, with more than a 100 pieces from each: Brazil,
Mexico, the USA, Namibia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and
China.
On
a touch screen, discover the satellite images of the
minerals ores of origin. You can also see pictures
of active mines and those of abandoned or closed mines.
-
The
MIM Museum 1:
>> View Movie
<< (2014-06-01) -
The
MIM Museum 2:
>> View Movie
<< (2014-06-01) -
The
MIM Museum 3:
>> View Movie
<< (2014-06-15)
