Pub. Resources Code, § 2202

The director may do any of the following:

(a) (1) Make a collection of typical geological and mineralogical specimens, especially those of economic and commercial importance, and of models, drawings, and descriptions of the mechanical appliances used in mining and metallurgical processes and geology, with that collection constituting the museum of the survey, which shall be known as the California State Mining and Mineral Museum.

(2) For the purposes of ensuring financial support and oversight of the museum, the department, museum staff, and the California State Mining and Mineral Museum Association may take all appropriate measures to encourage donations for the support of the museum by individuals, companies, and organizations. These donations shall be collected by the department and deposited in the California State Mining and Mineral Museum Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the money in the fund is hereby continuously appropriated to the department for expenditure for the following activities, in the following order of priority:

(A) Payment of curation, interpretation services, and administrative costs.

(B) Payment of management and visitation enhancement services.

(C) Operational costs of the museum.

(b) Provide a library of books, reports, and drawings bearing upon the mineral industries, the sciences of mineralogy and geology, and the arts of mining and metallurgy.

(c) Preserve and maintain that collection and library as to make them available for reference and examination, and open to public inspection at reasonable hours.

(d) Maintain a bureau of information concerning the mineral industries of this state, which is to consist of that collection and library, and arrange, classify, catalog, and index that data in a manner that makes the information available to those desiring it.