This valuable piece, symbolizing the province's rich mining legacy, was donated by a former student from the first graduating class of Geology at the institution. The addition of this specimen to the museum aims to inspire new generations of geologists in Huelva.
The director of the UHU Museum Classroom, Juan Carlos Pérez Caliani, highlighted the uniqueness of the piece, a native copper specimen measuring 39 by 20 centimeters, whose dimensions surpass those found in renowned international collections. Pérez Caliani emphasized that, beyond its scientific value, the piece represents a "fragment of our mining memory."
“"Many minerals are already here and others will come, because I believe this is where they should be."
The preservation of this specimen was made possible thanks to the support of the Atlantic Copper Chair, which funded a specific display case for its exhibition. This space aspires to become a museum recognized and accredited by the Junta de Andalucía.
The Vice-Rector for Transfer and Territorial Development, Reyes Sánchez, praised the donation as a significant gesture at a time when Geology and Mining Engineering degrees have low demand, despite their great professional prospects. To foster these vocations, guided tours for pre-university students will be promoted at the museum.
For its part, a representative from Atlantic Copper expressed the company's pride in collaborating on the preservation of a piece of "exceptional historical value for the province," which represents the origins of copper utilization and serves as an inspiration for students.
