A Two-Billion-Year-Old Meteorite and "Peshmerga Agate": Unique Geological Stories from Erbil Museum

SadaNews - In the heart of the ancient Erbil Citadel, a witness to thousands of years of history, a specialized museum shines with its scientific and aesthetic light, telling stories that date back to ancient geological eras.

The Gemstone and Fossils Museum in Erbil is not just an exhibition; it is the first specialized museum of its kind in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, combining the fragrance of history with rare treasures from the earth.

The museum, located in a two-story old building within the citadel, houses over 700 unique pieces collected from various parts of the world, including Latin America, Russia, and Asia. The exhibits vary to include fossils from different geological eras, extinct marine creatures, and rare gemstones.

The museum is considered a leading scientific and cultural center aimed at raising awareness about the significance of these stones and their historical and aesthetic value. It has also become an important tourist destination attracting visitors from within Iraq and abroad, in addition to researchers and university students interested in earth sciences.

From "Childhood Games" to Geological Passion

Behind this unique edifice stands Sarbast Majid Omar, the founder and director of the Erbil Geological Museum, who transformed his personal passion for collecting gemstones into a national achievement. Omar tells Al Jazeera Net about the beginning of his journey, which blossomed in the mountainous regions: "All our games involved stones." As he entered the College of Science, Department of Geology at the University of Mosul, this childhood hobby evolved into a scientific passion.

He added that collecting this rare combination took more than 40 years, with most pieces acquired through purchase, in addition to some gifted items. Omar explains that the museum primarily focuses on the scientific aspect of stones and fossils, transcending their traditional historical or archaeological value.

Omar highlighted the challenges he faced, noting that the initial obstacles were financial in providing funds to purchase the pieces, especially during his university studies. As the collection grew, the greatest challenge became finding a suitable place to store them and keep them safe, which was finally achieved within the ancient Erbil Citadel.

Pride of Meteorites and Fossils

The museum proudly includes pieces of exceptional scientific value, including:

A piece of the "Blasite" meteorite estimated to be two billion years old.

Fossils of "Trilobites" that date back about 600 million years.

"Peshmerga Agate," a piece of agate found during the war against ISIS, named in pride of its color resembling the uniform of Peshmerga forces.

Regarding the museum's sustainability, Omar clarified that the entrance fees are used to cover staff expenses, with the remaining amount allocated for developing the museum and adding more rare pieces, benefiting from the nature of hard stones and fossils that are not significantly affected by climatic conditions, making it easier to preserve them for the long term.

A Wonderful Idea Worthy of Attention

A visit to the Gemstone Museum located in the historical Erbil Citadel impressed visitors, who expressed their admiration for the valuable and varied exhibits, calling for more attention to the museum to meet global standards.

Citizen Moaz al-Din Salah shared his positive impression, stating: "Honestly, visiting the gemstone exhibition inside the Erbil Citadel was a lovely experience."

Salah emphasized the special significance of gemstones, adding: "In fact, it is a fascinating topic that captures attention because it relates to aesthetics and spirituality. Therefore, an exhibition that specializes in these matters is a very beautiful initiative."

Salah also praised the information available about the exhibits: "As a view of the stones and as information about them including the country of origin, age, and source, it is good and beautiful information for anyone who loves and enters this field and delves into it."

Treasures from Around the World

For her part, citizens Yamam Sami described the museum as "of a special kind," noting the "many treasures gathered from all over the world, which is very important for both adults and children."

Sami confirmed that what caught her attention were the rare pieces contained in the museum, "particularly the meteorite and the rhodamines present, and the large sizes of the stones."

She added that "the diversity of exhibits, and also for those who have information or interest in the world of gemstones, will delight their eyes and satisfy their passion for this museum."