Part of Abdulhamid Memarzia’s Fossil and Geological Tools Collection Donated to the Oil Industry Museums

A portion of the personal fossil and geological tools collection belonging to Abdulhamid Memarzia, a distinguished geophysicist of Iran’s oil industry known among his colleagues as “Bright Eye,” has been donated to the Museums of Iran’s Oil Industry.

Born in 1945 and a geology graduate of Shiraz University (1972), Memarzia began his career with the Consortium (the “Seven Sisters”) in southern Iran and later joined the National Iranian Oil Company’s exploration and production division. In 1977, he completed a specialized course in geophysics at the University of Houston, USA, before continuing his research and technical work in Tehran.

Driven by a lifelong passion for nature and Earth sciences, Memarzia spent nearly three decades collecting geological samples, fossils, shells, and rare zoological specimens from Iran and around the world — including Africa, South America, Europe, and Asia. His colleagues called him “Bright Eye” for his sharp observation in discovering rare samples.

Today, his collection — consisting of over 3,000 mineral, rock, plant, and animal fossils — represents a rich scientific legacy spanning geological eras from the Cambrian to the present day. Each item has been carefully documented with detailed scientific data.

Recently, Mr. Memarzia donated part of this valuable collection — including geological and engineering tools (scale rulers, templates, compasses, etc.) and selected rock, fossil, and shell specimens — to the Museums of Iran’s Oil Industry.

This donation not only preserves a lifetime of scientific dedication but also highlights the connection between the oil industry, geoscience, and natural history. The donated items will soon be available for public display and research at the Oil Industry Museums.