Marion, Kentucky

FEE SITE

Reservations Only

 WHAT: Fluorite and Fluorescent  minerals

WHERE:  Mine spoil dumps outside of Marion, Kentucky

                 We will meet at the Ben E. Clement Museum, 205 North Walker Street, Marion KY 42064

WHEN:  Sat. and Sun., May 5 & 6, 2007  

TIME:  Day and night digs.

COLLECTING:  Fluorite, smithsonite, sphalerite, cerussite, galena, hemimorphite, hydrozincite, quartz, & pyromorphite. Calcite is by far the most common mineral found, and all other minerals require some digging in the dump to locate.
  

FEE: The day time digs will cost $20 and the night time digs will be $30 (this entitles you to one five gallon bucket of specimens). Admission to the Ben Clement Fluorite Museum is $ 5.

All reservations for the digs will be handled though the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum at www.MarionKentucky.us. Or call 270-965-9257, or write Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum, 205 North Walker Street, Marion, Kentucky 42064. Information on campgrounds, lodging, and bed and breakfasts can also be obtained from Clement Mineral Museum.

In order to fill any vacancies in the scheduled digs, after April 1, 2007 these vacancies will be open to any other rock hound who wishes to join the dig. While the primary purpose of this trip is to accommodate GMS members, the secondary purpose is to help the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum fund its efforts in maintaining a world class fluorite collection and making it available to the public.

WHAT TO BRING:  Other than standard collecting equipment, bring plenty of water, snacks, camera, and you will need a portable ultraviolet light. Daytime collectors will need a way to check fluorescence too! Black light boxes or whatever suits you. Night time collectors will need a standard flashlight to travel to and from their cars. Short wave and broad spectrum ultraviolet lights are best. Most collectors will share their lights, but do not count on it, after all someone will need to bring a light.

Although, the temperatures have been warm thus far, May can occasionally be quite brisk in the Ohio Valley. So be prepared to dress warmly, multiple layers works best.  

MINE HISTORY:  There are several mines in the area and we can not be sure of the exact mine we will visit and can not be sure of the minerals we will find. The mines where the dig is to be conducted are located on the Commodore fault system and date back to 1901. Mine shafts on the property have produced fluorite, smithsonite and sphalerite. Other minerals that have been found in the mine dumps include; cerussite, galena, hemimorphite, hydrozincite, quartz, & pyromorphite. Calcite is by far the most common mineral found, and all other minerals require some digging in the dump to locate.

The Rock Shaft dump comprises most of the material at this mine site.  The Rock shaft was completed to the depth of 240 feet. From 1924-25 some 8,000 tons of smithsonite was removed from the Rock Shaft. The Maddox shaft sunk in 1941-42 was completed to remove approximately 215 tons of "gravel spar" (fluorite). A crosscut was made from the Maddox shaft to the Commodore Fault and in 1945 a vertical raise was cut up though the Commodore Fault zone. This raise is known as the Yandell shaft. Mud, gouge, calcite, fragments of fluorite veins, sphalerite and galena were noted (R. Trace, 1954). There is an open shaft on the site which is surrounded by barbed wire.

The most common fluorescent mineral is calcite which glows a soft to bright pearly white. There are other colors other than white, but they are fewer in number. Of particular note are specimens of sandstone which glow a coral pink to a bright red in either short wave or broad spectrum ultraviolet light. There are also specimens which glow various shades of pale yellow and bright blue. Please note: that included in the spoil are fragments of mortar and concrete which will also fluoresce. The concrete and mortar was made from rock from the mine.