The University of Pavia Museo di Mineralogia developed towards the end of the 18th century out of the "mineral kingdom" section of the Museo di Storia Naturale founded by Lazzaro Spallanzani.Its collections have expanded constantly ever since through purchases;exchanges and donations.It is currently housed in the ample premises made available by the Department of Earth Sciences and the Environment in the Science Centre of University of Pavia.
The material is divided into various collections;the most important of which is systematic in character while others are based on regional criteria or focus at a smaller scale on particular localities of mineralogical interest.There is also an educational collection displaying the "essential" minerals of a small systematic collection alongside groups of minerals showing the most important types of habitus and examples of twin crystals that are particularly well formed in accordance with the most important twin laws.Jaspers and other cut gemstones purchased by the museum in the early years of the 19th century are on display in a fine historical collection.