Geology Museum
Ipoh

Geology Museum Ipoh

From the outside, the Geology Museum Ipoh (or Geological Museum or Muzium Geologi) looks rather drab and dated so I was not expecting to find much inside. Perhaps a few boring rock fragments in dusty display cases. But I was pleasantly surprised to find a modern style museum, well presented with lots of interesting displays providing in-depth information on various aspects of geology in Malaysia.

The museum forms part of Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains Malaysia (Department of Minerals and Geoscience). The museum was set up in 1957 but has since undergone a thorough updating internally.

The museum’s exhibits are arranged under 7 zones:

Zone A

Geology Museum Ipoh evolution

This section gives background on the history of the museum and the early days of the Geological Survey Department.

A wall chart shows how the earth evolved over billions of years, up through the dinosaur periods up until the present era.

Zone B

Geology Museum Ipoh T-Rex

This section covers dinosaurs, fossils and rocks. If you have any young ones with you the moving animatronic T-Rex model should give them a fright.

Zone C

Geology Museum Ipoh gemstones, crystals and minerals

Here you can admire some lovely specimens of gemstones, crystals and minerals such as these malachite and agate examples. Amethysts, quartz, beryl, fluorite, desert rose gypsum, garnet, pyrite, calcite, chalcanthite and stibnite are among other minerals on display. 

Zone D

Geology Museum Ipoh minerals

This zone shows the ways we use minerals to enhance life, with explanations on diamonds, rock aggregates, bauxite, basalt, asbestos and borax among others.

 Zone E

Geology Museum Ipoh tin mining

It seems no museum in Malaysia is complete without a display on tin mining and here you can see examples of mining equipment from the past as well as a display on coal mining in Sarawak and Sabah.

Zone F

Geology Museum Ipoh mineral exploration

This section explores how mineral exploration and geological surveys are carried out.

Zone G

Geology Museum Ipoh kids games

In case the kids are getting bored there is a giant-sized geology-themed snakes and ladders board here. This section includes information on geoheritage activities in Malaysia and outstanding geographical features such as the granite twin peaks on Tioman Island, stalactite curtain wall at Gua Tempurung, Perak and the spectacular Klang Gates Quartz Ridge.

Geology Museum Ipoh Malaysian rock formationsTop: Twin peaks on Tioman Island. Below: Elephant head rock at Bukit Buau, Pemanggil Island, Johore.

 Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

Monday to Thursday: 9am to 12.30pm, 2pm - 4.30pm

Friday: 9am - 12pm, 3pm - 4.30pm

Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed


Admission is FREE.

Review Verdict

One of Malaysia’s better museums with more in-depth coverage of the topic. Would be of particular interest to anyone studying geology or geography but well worth a visit for the casual visitor.

 How to Get to Geology Museum Ipoh

The exact location of Geology Museum Ipoh is shown on this map:

GPS Coordinates:

4°35'51.1"N 101°07'11.2"E

4.597530, 101.119770


Contact Address: 

Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Perak, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 30820 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Tel: 05 540 6000

Fax: 05 540 6100

https://www.facebook.com/jmgmalaysia/

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AUTHOR BIO

cartoon of author with an orangutan

David (the one on the left) is the writer behind Malaysia Traveller, sharing firsthand travel advice from over five decades of living and travelling across Asia and the Middle East. Based in Malaysia since 2009 and now in Kuching, he has published 700+ pages, personally visited every place he covers, and uses only his own photos. Readers can learn more on his About Me page. He also shares updates on Facebook and YouTube. He loves uncovering overlooked places even many Malaysians have never visited.