TEHRAN – Remnants of algae, estimated to date from 620 million years ago, are the oldest objects on display at Sangsar museum of fossils and minerals in central Iran.

Located in Mehdishahr, Semnan Province, the private museum showcases precious and semi-precious stones and it also includes a small part dedicated to anthropology, Mehr reported.

“Fossil remains here date from 620 million years ago to the contemporary world,” the museum’s director Hassan Pakzadian said.

The museum shows 10,000 fossilized pieces and hundreds of mineral stones both domestic and the ones collected from various countries including Brazil, Serilanka and Germany, he added.

Students and researchers are amongst regular visitors to the museum.

Algae are predominantly aquatic, photosynthetic organisms which are extremely diverse, ranging from giant kelps to microscopic diatoms, and their taxonomy is contentious.

 PHOTO: Collector Hassan Pakzadian speaks to visitors at Sangsar museum of fossils and minerals

AFM/MQ/MG