Rockhounding Fluorite at Minerva Mine. Directions and cave pictures at end!

[@EverythingIsSpirit]

Really nice video and specimens. Thank you for sharing the beauty of the Earth with us.🔮✨

[@blindsquirrelrocks]

Such a great area, and you are so nice to show your audience how to get to the mine! If you make it up to Harrisburg, try Rupert Johnson's BBQ! Yum!!

[@coffee19837]

Awesome video where is that location? Very beautiful finds great video 😊

[@rockhoundingmidmo8873]

It's in the very southern part of Illinois. I give directions at the end of the video

[@sethflint2955]

Thank you I've found my next adventure spot

[@angiemitchell5316]

I live in Eldorado Illinois and thats not to far of a drive for me. Ill definitely let you know when I go.

[@stevewoods8116]

Thank you for sharing! I would love to get there one day. What were they mining for if you don't mind me asking?

[@rockhoundingmidmo8873]

I'm not even sure what they actually mine at this quarry. I don't think they do it for the fluorite. But I think some of the workers might keep pieces of it.

[@kellikels7315]

Definatly flourite veing in hardin county flourspar district the undergrownd mine kept getting full of water from creeks etc but eventually the pu.pimg it out to send guys down was just too expensive considering they werent totally positive of how much they would be able toine. There are like 3 in an area known for pulling purple yellow blue clear some pink colors with lilac imbedded pices that turn the clear a pink hue, calsite barite sphalerite spar, and sandstone heaven in ALL OF SOUTHERN IL IS HOME FOR QUARTS OR DOG TOOTH CALCITE (SIMILAR IN STRUCTURE) I BELIVE WITHERITE CHALCEDONY ALOT OF RAINBOW FLOURITE AND BIG SLABS OF CRYSTAL MATRIXS INSIDE SOME OF THR BIGGER ROCKS. I WISH THEY WOULD START DIGS IN ALL OF HASTIES AND LAFARGES SHIT DOWN AND OTHER RECLAIMED FORESTRY MINE PROJECTS. ALTHO TO MY KNOWLEDGE BY FORESTRY EMPLOYEE IN THE BLDG IN HARRISBURG, IF U CAN CARRY OUT ON YOUR PERSON U CAN TAKE IS A A SOUVENIR ETC, NO TRUCKS OR MACHINERY AND THE LIKE BUT SOME PLACES ARE COMPLETE BLOCKED FROM ANYONE 3XPLORING OR GEM N ROCK HUNTING COOL COOL AREA. LOTS OF REAL HISTORY HERE SO DONT MISS THAT WHILE SEARCHING ROCKS. I LET THE ROCKS THAT CHOOSE ME GUIDE WHAT I PICK UP OR TAKE OFF SITE. ITS A SHAME SO MUCH OF THE BEAUTY WE GET FROM OUR ROCK QUARRIES AND MINES AND BLUFFAGE SETTINGS ARE LESS KNOWN BY LOCALS THAN TRAVELLERS. LOTS OF CAMPING AND WATER FALLS SWIMMING HOLES CEEEKS RIVERS HISTORIC SITES COOL QUIRKY TRAILS WOTH NEVER BEFORE SEEN NODULES FOSSILS ARTIFACTS AND TRAILS. SO MANY PROTECTED AREAS FOR REGENEATING SOME SPECIES OF BUGS ANIMALS AND EVEN FAUNA. GOOD PPL. AND VERY COOL LOCAL EXPLORERS THAT GIVE GREAT ADVICE ON WHERE ELSE TO GO. DEF GO IF U HAVENT . GARDEN OF THE GODS AND SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST, BEST IVE BEEN TO YET. AND BE PATIENT FOR THE TRACTORS AND COMBINES BECAUSE FARMING ID BIG TOO HERE AS WELL AS COAL. GOOD PPL HERE THAT MAKE A DIFFRENCE ANY WAY POSSIBLE. COME FIND OUT WHAT WE FALL IN LOVE OVRER AND OVER AND NEVER GET BORED .

[@sf8137]

So, I went there last night. I found literally 4 stones. 4! There's nothing left to pick. And we had a black light. 😢

[@rockhoundingmidmo8873]

It was in the eclipse totality. Did you get to see that?

[@sf8137]

@@rockhoundingmidmo8873 Drove down that way to see the eclipse and then went rockhounding that evening.

[@teecee4459]

You need to dig your own shaft, a couple hundred feet down. Make sure to fill in your diggings afterwards though.

[@mgreen745]

Is this public land or private property?

[@rockhoundingmidmo8873]

Public

[@gebarksdale90]

Do you take these home and tumble them?? What do they look like after?

[@rockhoundingmidmo8873]

I have tried polishing some of the cubes with different grades of sand paper. Sometimes though it tarnishes the natural look it had originally and turns out too foggy.

[@dillonmcgonagle8854]

So I can go here and just pick stuff up and take it

[@rockhoundingmidmo8873]

Yes

[@dillonmcgonagle8854]

@@rockhoundingmidmo8873 ok great I live about 5 hours away from there so I wanted to make sure before I go

[@dillonmcgonagle8854]

@@rockhoundingmidmo8873 also you think there is still a lot of fluorite here or is is all taken by other people

[@rockhoundingmidmo8873]

It's been picked over through the years, but can still usually still find small pieces here and there. You might try digging a spot then spraying or pour some water on it to make the good pieces stand out

[@dillonmcgonagle8854]

@@rockhoundingmidmo8873 ok thanks

[@kateg6203]

How can I contact you? I want to talk rocks!

[@kateg6203]

I’m in columbia mo