Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 31/2. (2011)
Paleontology
Rodica CIOBANU in natural sciences, too. The research of minerals was also influenced favorably by economic interests aiming to exploit the mineral resources ofTransylvania. Thus, in the eighteenth century, new directions for studying and setting up mineralogical collections were outlined. Eighteenthcentury Transylvanian naturalist literature consists mainly of monographic works about the minerals of the Principality. After having studied in Halle, Jena and Vienna, the Brukenthal baron returned to Sibiu and held various positions in the administration ofTransylvania, the most important one having been that of governor (1774-1787). As imperial official, Brukenthal also managed the financial affairs of the state, and took into account the priceless source of income which the mineral resources represented for the Viennese Court and the private entrepreneurs alike. He had such preoccupations even before his governor role. In January 1767, as President of the Chancery Court, he mentions in a report on the economic situation of the Grand Principality ofTransylvania, the noble/precious metals which could be extracted from the mines ofTransylvania, and could thus constitute new sources of income. In 1764, in order to further stimulate the mining activity, Brukenthal brings forward the idea of creating a University in Transylvania. Although he does not consider a natural science department as such, he does suggest establishing a department of “economy and state revenues”, which would address also the mines, rich sources of revenue for the imperial treasury (Göllner, 1977, p. 15). As President of the Chancery Court, he issues a report about the economic situation of the Grand Principality ofTransylvania, where he refers to the increase in the price of salt and to the amount of noble metals that could be extracted from the mines ofTransylvania. (Göllner, 1977, p. 15) After his return from Vienna, Brukenthal has now shares in the mines from Säcärämb, Zlatna, Toplita, Boka and Bucium. The areas where most of the minerals were collected from are today located in the golden quadrangle ofTransylvania. The documents in his archive reveal that the acquisition of the shares was not so much about profit, but rather about encouraging the leverage of Transylvanian wealth. Thus in 1775, Brukenthal had 8 shares at the gallery of Barbara Zlatna and in 1781 - 8 shares at the St. Clement gallery of Säcärämb. In 1782 he bought 8 shares at Toplita Bucium, Boka (Schuller, 1969, p.285). As governor and shareholder in mining, Brukenthal had access to valuable mineral samples. (Ittu, 2008) His mineral collection reflects both of the main directions of his existence, the systematic - scientific and the practical, economic one. At the Sibiu State Archives, namely in the Brukenthal fond, one can find some of Baron Brukenthal’s shares at the main mines from Transylvania. His acquisition of shares was not only due to economic reasons but also meant to stimulate the mineral resources exploitation, especially in order to improve geological research in Transylvania. There was also another side to this interest - setting up the collection, mentioned by his biographer, Georg Adolf Schuller. Between 1770 and 1780, in Sweden, Linnaeus revolutionized the systematic organization of the vegetal world fostered scientific research in natural sciences. Linnaeus’s research influenced his countrymen Kronstedt, Bergmann and Wallerius. They applied Linnaeus’s new ideas in the research of minerals. Their works arrived to Vienna and from here to Transylvania. On the other hand, the growing interest in mineral resources has led to the emergence of a new fashion: setting up mineral collections. At the Viennese Court, Emperor Lrancis I was a zealous collector. He was the founder of the “cabinets”, within which various collections were built. At the Court there was also a “cabinet of natural sciences”, which was also present in the noble houses throughout Austro-Hungary and the entire Western Europe. It seems that these Viennese collections set a strong example and thus influenced Brukenthal’s activity as collector. (Schuller, 1969, p.283, 284). At the Halle University, the true school of the future enlighten scholars, Brukenthal came to understand the importance of the personal 110
