Mineral raw materials are the foundation of modern civilisation; almost all building materials and everyday objects we use contain mineral raw materials. These include sand, gravel, limestone, marl, clay, salt and various forms of dimension stone. Although such raw materials are abundant in Switzerland, their supply is not always guaranteed. The «Materia Helvetica» exhibition in the Federal Palace offers an insight into the potential and the challenges of using local occurrences of mineral raw materials in Switzerland.

Exhibition site itself built with diverse mineral raw materials

The regional extraction of mineral raw materials has a centuries-old tradition in Switzerland and played an important role in the construction of the Federal Palace: 30 types of rock from thirteen cantons were used. These rock types are among the most important in Switzerland.

Good to know

The «Materia Helvetica» exhibition at the Federal Palace runs from February 25 to August 3, 2022. It was organised by the Network of Mineral Resources Switzerland (NEROS) in cooperation with swisstopo and other partner organisations. Visits are free of charge and offered by means of registration.

Further information: materia-helvetica.ch