The Magmax expands and plans to open a library-laboratory: inaugurated last summer, the smallest mineral museum in Italy (and perhaps in the world) is preparing to host new activities. Magmax is the Astense Museum of Geology, Mineralogy, Mining Art and Crystallography which is housed in the Quartero Tower, on the corner between corso Alfieri and via Roero, in the heart of the “cultural zone” of the historic center. There, in a room of 20 square meters, the chemist from Asti Massimo Umberto Tomalinowith his wife Francesca Busa, has collected a large part of his collection dedicated to the mineral world, started in childhood and never interrupted, in a sort of “wunderkammer” that summarizes the history and knowledge of an ancient science. Tomalino and his wife are the key to the success of this unique museum: to understand it you need their passionate guide, a story that accompanies the discovery of the fascination and curiosity of mineralogy in a captivating and clear way.
The interest of Italian and foreign visitors for the collections, gathered in thematic exhibitors, has given new impetus to Tomalino. «The success achieved so far by Magmax – he explains – gives us reason to start new initiatives. From mid-March we will have an adjoining apartment: it will host the temporary exhibition dedicated to the minerals of the Luserna stone, while we will design the library-laboratory ready in the summer. The museum will remain what it is, concentrated in one room, and until June 25 will continue to offer the temporary exhibition dedicated to “The lords of Lavoisier“, Which was much appreciated by the public”. The new monographic exhibition is linked to the forthcoming publication of the book by Bruno Marello and Massimo Umberto Tomalino «The Table of the minerals of Luserna».
Expansion
About thirty square meters large, the space bordering the museum overlooks Corso Alfieri, in front of the “Vittorio Alfieri” high school, practically in the center of a quadrilateral formed by the city’s exhibition centers (Lapidary, Paleontological, Risorgimento, Palazzo Mazzetti) and a few steps from the De Regibus and Comentina towers, therefore inserted in an ideal tourist route.
The library will make available to users books, atlases, manuals, lecture notes, scientific, educational and entertainment publications (there will be comics) that will allow them to learn more or deepen their knowledge of the world of mineralogy. In the laboratory it will be possible to discover the so-called didactic cassettes, mini collections with samples of rocks and minerals ordered according to different classification methods, not only to be seen but also to be touched, while scientific instruments will allow experiments to directly understand the characteristics of minerals such as hardness, fluorescence , radioactivity and magnetism.
«In the new space – indicates Tomalino – we will also organize courses, conferences, direct observations and we will propose book presentations with the authors: all aimed at making the relationship between Magmax and fans of the sector ever more profitable. An idea that we will perfect in autumn and will fascinate visitors for the natural charm it will bring with it. The details will be presented in the near future ».
Both the museum and the adjoining space will continue to operate by reservation and with free admission. To book: 328 / 16.98.691; [email protected]. Information: www.astimagmax.it.