It is located inside the Instituto Geológico y Minero de España building in Madrid, Spain.

[2] The museum has its roots in the collection of the 'Comisión para formar la Carta geológica de Madrid y la general del Reino' (Commission to form the geographical letter of Madrid and the kingdom), which was created by Isabell II in 1849.

The collection has been housed in its current location since 1927, and was conceived of by Spanish mining engineer D. Primitivo Hernández Sampelayo.

The building was designed by Spanish architect Francisco Javier de Luque, and built between 1921 and 1925.

The contents of the museum are displayed in 250 showcases on the ground floor of the building and three perimeter balconies.