IGR - Rennes 1 University

The Geology collections of the University of Rennes 1 (IGR: Rennes Geology Institute) are managed by the Rennes Geosciences joint research unit (UMR 6118) collectively with the Cultural department of the university. These collections are composed of over 1 million specimens from Rennes’ former Natural History Museum, founded quickly after the French revolution, and the Faculté des Sciences, founded in 1840. A list of the collectors involved in these collections is available on the Géosciences Rennes website.

The paleontology fonds is rather important as it accounts for 90% of the collections. This fonds encompasses a collection that reflects the substantial development of the regional paleontology (Paleozoic and Cenozoic of the Armorican Massif), as well as a general collection showcasing the entire Phanerozoic eon. The collection of the Rennes1 University possesses over 5,000 types and figured specimens, available in the Explore database, on the RECOLNAT portal. Parts of the collections are displayed at the Geology museum, which also presents a set of 25 paintings by Mathurin Méheut and Yvonne Jean-Haffen.

The mineralogy fonds, encompassing around 20,000 samples, is centered on general systematics, with a particular focus on mining and metallogenic resources of the Armorican Massif. A thousand minerals are displayed at the museum.

The petrographic fonds encompasses around 30,000 rocks, and several kilometers of drillings (deposited by the BRGM pars.), typical of the rocks of the Armorican Massifs and its surroundings. Arounds 6,000 thin section are still in use for university courses.

An “archives and old photography” fonds, built on researcher’s personal archives is available by request only, and gathers arounds 20,000 documents, specifically the fonds of Collin, Durand, Kerforne, Milon, Ollivier-Pierre, …

The university ex situ geology heritage is supplemented by numerous antique books on geology, deposited at the Géosciences Rennes special library, and at the University library of the Beaulieu campus .

Links
Website : https://culture.univ-rennes1.fr/geologie
Géosciences : https://geosciences.univ-rennes1.fr/collections-musee
Flickr Gallery : https://www.flickr.com/photos/151503765@N04/albums/72157676130796424

Contact
Damien GENDRY – Assistant curator - damien.gendry@univ-rennes1.fr / 02 23 23 63 05
Marion LEMAIRE – Head of the museum collection -marion.lemaire@univ-rennes1.fr / 02 23 23 70 49


The Geology Museum, with the Mathurin Méheut paintings is open to the public on weekdays, all year around (except on school holidays). ©Université Rennes 1


Orbicular diorite from Corsica. ©Université Rennes 1


Sample of crystalized sulfur from Sicily (Italia). ©Université Rennes 1


Ammonite Asteroceras stellare (Sowerby, 1815), from Sinemurian in Dorset (England). ©Université Rennes 1


The paleontology section of the Geology museum presents the evolution of life on earth, from the Precambrian to modern days, through a tour tracing back the drift of the Armorican Massif from the south pole to its present latitudes. ©Université Rennes 1


Mineralogy Gallery. ©Université Rennes 1


Crystal models used in classes. ©Université Rennes 1


Thin section used in petrography classes. ©Université Rennes 1