A magical guide for children where the variety of minerals is explained by the fairy tale characters of terra mineralia. Subsequently, children examine minerals under the microscope.  

Mining in the Ore Mountains began with the discovery of silver in Freiberg. Many of its achievements are world-famous and led to the title UNESCO World Heritage for the Montan region of the Ore Mountains. The children get to know the legend of the Freiberg silver discovery in a playful way. They learn about the hard work the miners had to do underground and why silver is still so valuable today.

This guided tour for children is subdivided into two parts. After the visit of two or three continent halls, little scientists learn at the "Forschungsreise" (research expedition) how minerals can be identified. In addition, they can look at them under the microscope. Finally, they explore the treasure chamber – the highlight of this tour.

Why is the mountain range on our doorstep named after ore? What do ores have to do with minerals? Which ores were so important that the Oremountains received the title UNESCO World Heritage? The children discover which minerals were mined in their homeland, which objects were created from them and which important inventions they led to.

At six stations spread across the whole exhibition, children will learn by means of their daily routine which minerals they encounter day in, day out. First thing in the morning, as the alarm goes, one mineral is already at play – quartz. It takes care of the regular ticking. And even at school, on the phone, or in the evening when you clean your teeth, minerals are everywhere, making our daily lives easier. Children will discover the most important minerals in daily life, practically and through play. The programme is designed for large groups of 70 pupils and above.

During the school holidays (Winter, Easter, Summer and Autumn), terra mineralia offers a changing programme on exciting topics for after-school and children's groups. The route leads through the exhibition, where topic-specific knowledge is imparted at various stations. In the hands-on laboratory "Research Expedition", suitable experiments or craft activities await.