FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Jeff]

I have recently noticed that quite a few internet dealers are posting various minerals from mines in the Viburnum Trend - specimens of calcite, iridescent chalcopyrite, galena, etc. I can't recall such an influx of these minerals for sale since the 1960s or so. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if any of these mines have recently reopened or are again allowing collecting? Or has a single collector or group of collectors obtained the rights to go back into these mines to obtain specimens? Or have several old large collections of these minerals recently become sources of this material. Thanks for any information. Cheers! Jeff

[Bob Harman]

The Viburnum Trend mining district in Southeast Missouri is a newer mining district then the Tri State mining district in Southwest Missouri and adjacent Oklahoma and Kansas. Minerals from these 2 completely separate districts are often confused because the districts are both in Missouri and many of the minerals collected are somewhat similar.
The Viburnum Trend specimens came onto the market place after 1975 while Tri state specimens were common by the late 1950s thru the 1960s. That district is now closed while Viburnum Trend mines are still open (or recently were) and new or quite recent finds are still coming onto the market. So in summary it seems to be an enlightened attitude about mineral collecting in the mines and lots of specimens (with much replication of species and specimen quality) being collected and sequestered for several years and now being marketed. CHEERS.......BOB