Kevin Conroy Minerals    

10076 Barberton Dr.

Saint Louis, Missouri 63126

    For more information or to order email me at: k.conroy@worldnet.att.net   

The American Fluorite Museum

Main Street

P.O. Box 755

Rosiclare, Illinois   62982

618-285-3513

If you're a fan of fluorite, or for that matter fantastic mineral specimens, you should really make a point of stopping in and seeing this museum.    The photos are of just a small portion of the minerals on display.    As usual, the pictures don't show the true magnificence of the specimens.    A good many of these are well over a foot across, and are simply awesome in person!   Click on the small pictures to enlarge them.

The following is taken from the flier on the museum:

"The American Fluorite Museum is located in the former office building of the Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Mining Company in downtown Rosiclare, Illinois, in the heart of the Southern Illinois - Western Kentucky Fluorite District, once the largest fluorspar mining area in the United States.

The Museum features numerous items representing the fluorspar mining industry, which have been donated by interested citizens, including ore specimens, mining paraphernalia and photographs."

You're greeted in the first display room by this HUGE blue fluorite specimen.

This fluorite is peppered with marcasite and chalcopyrite.    Note the window behind it for scale!   This beauty features stepped crystals in great condition.

Another huge one, this one is a translucent purple.

Fluorite & Barite, well over two feet across!

One of the oddities found in the district, the bitumen covered fluorite specimen is not as flashy looking as many of the other specimens.   I was told that during mining areas were found where crude oil seeped from the walls, ranging in consistency from a thick tar to that of motor oil.

One of my favorites, this awesome specimen has barite balls "floating" as inclusions within the fluorite crystals, and has a calcite spray on top to really give it class.

Gemmy "butterball" calcites nearly completely cover this fluorite cube.

Another of the oddities of the district, these celestite casts were extremely rare.

This is a VERY fine galena for the district.   Sorry about the reflection of the floor.   I didn't notice it when I was taking the picture.    I thought about not including this photo in the page (just for a second), but this is too good of a galena not to show just because of a little reflection.

Another real rarity from the district, this smithsonite specimen is mighty fine.

Several habits of celestite were found.   This blue one has slightly zoned crystals.

Purple fluorite with deep honey colored cores, simply classic.

This scale model of one of the mines is highly detailed, and shows the workings of everyday mining operations in the district.

The museum is currently open on a seasonal basis, from March to December.    The hours are:

Thursday 1 - 4

Friday 1 - 4

Saturday 10 - 4

Sunday 1 - 4

Tours are available by special appointment.   Call or write for information.

Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 12, and is well worth every penny!