Vacation is another motivating factor. Some admire summer photos from the coast, some dream of visiting the historical heritage of different countries. But if you learn about all the treasures of the Khoroshiv Museum of Precious and Decorative Stones, you will definitely not wait for summer, but will come to look at the exhibits, which are valuable and unique not only from a scientific point of view. The stones come to life here, and some exhibits are not just fabulous, but even mystical. Here are just 10 facts about the museum that will motivate you to see this wonder with your own eyes

Fact 1 Let’s start with political reputation. It turns out that even stones have it. In the museum you can see samples of varieties of labradorite and granite from the Lezniki quarry, which decorated the iconic architectural structures in different countries and made monuments to politicians. In terms of influencing Ukrainian history, these “leaders” hardly deserve monuments or even mentions, but the facts are stubborn. It is here that you will see the most expensive and valuable samples of stones from the Khoroshiv deposit, which were considered an honor to decorate monuments to politicians of different countries.

Fact 2 Museums are always something about ancient. But it is even difficult to imagine that some exhibits of this museum are 1 billion 700 million years old! That’s how long it’s been since natural processes formed the beryllium, topaz, quartz, and piezoquartz deposits, examples of which you can see. The only museum in Ukraine, located on the field, exhibits 2,000 samples of various minerals.

Fact 3 Everymore or less educated person knows that the German philosopher and writer Goethe wrote Faust, but who knows about his contribution to the development of geology as a science? In the museum you will not only learn about interesting facts from the life of Goethe geologist, but also see goethite – an iron mineral named after a famous scientist.

Fact 4 Space and Khoroshiv are actually much closer than they seem. It is here that you can see samples of a mineral called kerite, which was used to make the suits of Soviet astronauts. The museum also has other samples of strategic minerals – quartz and piezoquartz, which were used in the production of submarines and radars. The price of strategic raw materials was well understood during the «arms race» and the industrial extraction of minerals of strategic importance began.

Fact 5 You may have once seen a frozen plant inside a rock, but the «flowers» of molten magma or manganese hydroxide inside a rock crystal that is billions of years old can only be seen in museum halls. Here you will see all the grandeur of nature, which created stones of amazing color and structure. Raw minerals have the right geometric shapes and such an amazing natural (!) look that you have never seen in your life.

Fact 6 Amethysts, citrins, morions from Madagascar, the Pamirs, China, Azerbaijan and other deposits of the world, gathered in one place – an argument for visiting, but some exhibits in the museum are much more proud. Among the beryls of the highest grade – heliodors, emeralds, aquamarines, goshenites, there are three original specimens attributed to the Historical Fund of Precious Stones of Ukraine. They have their passports and names in honor of Ukrainian geologists who discovered rare minerals to the world.

Fact 7 I wonder if the organizers of the large-scale display of «the world’s largest topaz» in London knew that the Khoroshiv Museum has topaz weighing 28.5 kg? If they knew, they would hardly call topaz two kilograms the largest in the world. So you don’t have to go to London to see miracle stones and take an interest in mineralogy. In addition, local masters can create masterpieces no worse than the works of Faberge.

Fact 8 About a fairy tale and an aquarium inside topazes can be told, but it is difficult to describe them in words. If only the use of 3D technology in photos could convey the depth and abyss that nature has created inside the stone. Here, in the museum, there are four original topazes, which have their own name. One look at them is enough to refute the idea of «dead stones». Take a look and you will see a fairy-tale world inside.

Fact 9 Some exhibits in the museum can not only be seen but also heard. Only here you will find «musical» quartz, which plays with different features, giving notes of different tones. Scientists have different explanations for the phenomenon: too much iron, high mineral stress or something else and very clever. We like another explanation: an ordinary miracle! In addition, in the museum you can not only look at the exhibits, but also touch them or even «play».

Fact 10 If your heart is sad, do not look for a mentalist – go to the Khoroshiv Museum. There are charms here: believe it or not, but when you touch the black morion, you give it all your confused thoughts and anxiety. We checked – it works. Mysticism!

We often look for amazing things far away, preferring to travel abroad. Look around: Zhytomyr region is extraordinary! Only a sense of self-worth, self-esteem and knowledge of our virtues and achievements will help us live better. Not only stones will come to life in the Khoroshiv Museum – history tells here. About people’s dedicated work, examples of passion for their work, fidelity to beliefs and words. Thanks to such people, today there is a unique museum with valuable exhibits, which come from around the world.

Don’t wait for a vacation – go on a trip this coming weekend, which will definitely enrich you with impressions and confidence that we have something to be proud of.
Address: 58 Heroiv Ukrainy Street, Khoroshiv, Zhytomyr Region, 12100
Tel. +380414532214, +380414532276
Ticket price: children – 20 UAH, adults – 30 UAH.
Excursion (for a group): children – UAH 50, adults – UAH 80.
Hours:
Mon-Fri from 9.00 to 17.00,
Sat from 10.00 to 17.00
Sun – day off.