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 Clement Mineral Museum

205 North Walker Street

Marion, Kentucky  42064

The Clement Mineral Museum displays a portion of the lifelong collection of Ben E. Clement.   The following is an excerpt from an informational pamphlet published by the Clement Mineral Museum, Kentucky Tourism Development Cabinet, and Kentucky Geological Survey:

Ben E. Clement

September 6, 1891 - January 30, 1980

Mr. Clement graduated from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, in 1915 with a Bachelor of Science degree.   He completed aviator's school near the close of World War I and was drawn to Kentucky by an interest in the fledgling fluorspar industry which was centered in Crittenden County.   He served as head of the science department at Henderson High School from 1920 - 1922 before organizing the Alpine, Holly, Davenport, and National Fluorspar Companies from 1925 to 1950.

From 1920 until his death in 1980, Mr. Clement accumulated what has become known as the largest and finest collection of fluorite specimens in the world.   Neatly blended into the collection are other minerals and archeological specimens that he found all around the world.

Pictured below is just one of the display rooms, and a sampling of the minerals and artifacts on display.   My pictures don't do justice to the specimens, as their size and color is much more impressive in person.   These displays are also still being worked on, so more of the specimens from this vast collection will be on display in the future.   But for now - enjoy!    Click on the small pictures to enlarge them!

Overview of one of the display rooms.

One of the artifacts on display.

One set of wall cases.

Fluorite & Calcite.

Fluorite & Calcite.

Barite.

Fluorite & Calcite.

A HUGE blue fluorite specimen!

Fluorite - Alcoa Mine, a real rarity (and HUGE).

Strontianite & Calcite.

Calcite & Witherite.

A backlit fluorite slice.

A HUGE yellow fluorite specimen.

Fluorite.

Two views of the same fluorite specimen, the second one backlit.

Witherite & Calcite.

This awesome Fluorite & Calcite is well over a foot across!

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 3 PM.

www.clementmineralmuseum.org

email: beclement@kynet.biz