Geodiversity Elements of Geological Collections as Ex Situ Teaching Tool: The Example of the Geography Department at the Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Geosciences teaching and geoheritage education (or geoeducation) possess specific characteristics in their teaching–learning process. This is especially because many focused objects and phenomena are three-dimensional and occur at a geological timescale. Traditional practical teaching tools involve carrying out fieldworks, presenting Earth dynamics on-site, and handling mineral/rock samples in classroom (ex situ). This paper explores how geology collections within a university context, as components of geodiversity, not only serve as teaching tools but also receive simultaneous geoconservation measures. The necessary stages to form ex situ geoheritage collections encompass identification, inventory, conservation, protection, promotion, exhibition, and dissemination. This work exemplifies how these actions were implemented in the collection of the Department of Geography at the Federal University of Pelotas, in Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil.