Talks & Kits

EdTalks: MINERALS WORTH TALKING ABOUT

Join our mining history expert and Collections Manager, Ed Raines, for a fascinating lecture series on the geology and mining history of Colorado.  Watch past lectures on the Museum Facebook page or here: EdTalks Archive

Date to be determined –  in GRL201: Eastern Clear Creek County (Idaho Springs, Freeland, Lamartine, & Chicago Creek)

Date to be determined – in GRL201: Western Clear Creek County Silver (Lawson, Georgetown, Silver Plume, & East Argentine)

DIGITAL COLLECTIONS

We have a sampling of specimens available to browse online through LibGuides including pieces from Creede and Gilman, CO.  Check them out here.

ARTICLES

Various authors contribute original articles to our biannual newsletter.  See available articles below:

“Revisiting History: Colorado’s Remarkable Mineral Palace,” by Ken Kucera (May 2020 – .pdf here: Mineral Palace_Kucera_MAY 2020)

“Heart of the ‘Richest Square Mile on Earth’: The Patch Glory Hole Mine, Central City, Gilpin County, CO,” by Ken Kucera (Nov. 2020 – pdf here: Patch Glory Hole_Kucera_NOV 2020)

“The Mines Museum of Earth Science: Home to the Historically Important State Mineral Collection of Colorado,” by Ken Kucera (CO State Collection_KUCERA_MAY 2021)

“The Bulldog Mountain Mine,” by Ken Kucera (Nov. 2021 – .pdf here: Bulldog Mine_Kucera_NOV 2021)

“The Sweet Home Mine: Silver “Failure” to Rhodochrosite Bonanza,” by Ken Kucera (May 2022 – .pdf here: Sweet Home Mine_KUCERA_MAY 2022)

“Daughter, I’ve struck it rich. Thomas Walsh and the Rich Camp Bird Mine,” by Ken Kucera (Nov. 2022 – .pdf here: Camp Bird Mine_KUCERA_NOV 2022)

TEACHING KITS

The museum offers two types of hands-on educational kits which are loaned to the public:

Rock & Mineral Kits

  • Focus on rock cycle and mineral properties
  • Designed for up to thirty 4th through 6th grade students
  • Includes 15 pieces of each sample
  • Mineral specimens include quartz, calcite and pyrite
  • Rocks include granite, sandstone and marble
  • Magnets, hand lenses and dilute hydrochloric acid also included
  • Teacher activity guide book and an educational video

Fossil Kits

  • Focus on fossils and geologic history
  • Designed for up to thirty, 6th through 12th grade students
  • Include fossils of teeth, claws, plants and more
  • Teacher guidebook and student worksheets included

KIT RESERVATION GUIDELINES:

  • Can be checked out for 3 weeks at a time
  • Requires refundable $50 cash or check deposit at time of pickup
  • Checks made out to “Mines Museum”
  • We do not accept credit cards for deposits
  • Pickups and drop-offs only allowed during regular business hours
  • Kits cannot be mailed

To make a kit reservation, email geomuseum@mines.edu with subject: “KIT”