关键词: 马可·波罗, 《游记》, 自然地理学, 矿物学

Abstract: This paper discusses Marco Polo's contributions to physical geography and mineralogy.Macro Polo correctly explained the rise of ignition point for short of oxygen and severe coldness on high mountains and firstly observed and recorded the phenomena concerning boiling point in the world.He explicitly recorded the Arctic region and the Arctic inhabitants on the basis of on-the-spot tour and correctly made the earliest description in the world about the polar night and polar day.And he was the first and the earliest representative among the civilized peoples who reached, proved, discovered and recorded the Arctic ocean.Marco Polo also described and recorded the improtant.Mineral phenomena and the ways in which the local People mined and utilized those minerals.All of these were seen by himself, leaving the precious historical data.The most improtant minerals put down by him included:Petroleum, natural gas, coal and asbestos ets.So he took down a sect of mankind's course fo exploiting those minerals and spread the knownledge concerning mineralogies.Thus he and his travels stimulated the Europeans to know those minerals, and he also left the precious data about mineralogies and about opening up the mines.

Key words: Marco Polo, Travels, Physical geography, Mineralogy