The Museum is one of this country lagerst natural-science museums. The Museum was established in 1882 following the organization of the Russian Geological Committee, and functioned under the auspices of the latter until 1930. In May 1930 the Museum acquired the status of a self-contained unit and was opened to the public.

    The Museum contains exhibits of more than 80.000 various specimens of minerals, rocks, fossil fauna and flora. Its total stocks exceed a million items. The Museum acquaints visitors with the geological structure of the territory of the ex-Soviet Union and its mineral wealth. It helps train geologists and disseminates geological knowledge among people and students.