Royal Cornwall Museum has announced Cornish Lithium as sponsors of the transformation of its Mineral Gallery.
The hub, which is a collection of more than 12,000 rock and mineral artefacts, is the first space to be renovated as part of an extensive project.
Cornish Lithium, a leader in the modern era of mineral extraction in Cornwall, has welcomed this partnership, acknowledging the museum's contribution in preserving Cornwall's mining heritage - a narrative dating back to the Bronze Age.
The transformation process kick-started earlier this year, boosted by a £476K grant from the UK Government’s Truro Town Deal, an integral part of its Levelling Up initiative.
By July, the gallery is expected to re-open, sporting an improved accessibility layout and an all-new digital lab designed to enrich school learning activities.
Jonathan Morton, executive director for the museum said: "We’re delighted to be forging a relationship with Cornish Lithium who are really leading the way with the new era of mineral extraction in Cornwall.
"As passionate geologists, they recognise the importance of the museum’s mineral collections, and we are extremely grateful for their support."
Cornish Lithium, a pioneer in the sustainable extraction of lithium, netted an impressive £53.6 million investment last year, including a £24 million grant from the UK Infrastructure Bank, funded by HM Treasury.
The extracted metals, including lithium, are indispensable for powering electric vehicles, battery storage systems, and other equipment necessary for driving the UK's green industrial revolution.
Jeremy Wrathall, founder and CEO of Cornish Lithium, said: "Cornish Lithium is delighted to support the Royal Cornwall Museum’s work to promote Cornwall’s proud mining heritage.
"We are excited to be at the vanguard of Cornwall’s mining renaissance and to secure environmentally responsible sources of the critical minerals required to drive the energy transition.
"Cornish Lithium wanted to support the Royal Cornwall Museum’s Mineral Gallery transformation because we share the same values of inclusivity, education and sustainability as the museum, which makes this a very natural partnership."
The transformation of the Mineral Gallery is just the initial phase of a larger revamp plan for the Royal Cornwall Museum.
It is courtesy of an additional £2.1m from the Good Growth Programme, managed by Cornwall Council and financed through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
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