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Field CollectingIllinois area

22nd Feb 2013 00:07 UTCAnonymous User

22nd Feb 2013 02:16 UTCKeith A. Peregrine

Reed,

There are few collecting spots in the Champaign-Urbana area. Although I have not been in the Galena area to collect, I have heard that this is all private property, plus the areas heavily overgrown.

As you said, the Keokuk area is great. There are several mines in the Hamilton area which produce some nice geodes. The Braidwood-Mazon Creek area is still productive. Please respect the private land owners in the area. The one place I look is the Mazon-Braidwood Wildlife area which lets you collect between March 1 and November. Last year I stumbled across an area which produced really nice pyrite-petrified wood. Fossils take patience.

The IL-KY Fluorspar District is best explored via the Ben Clement Museum Digs. Beginning in March and lasting through October, you can get access to the Eureka and Columbia Mines. The Eureka produces some nice fluorites, galena and other minerals. This is a window to the bedrock, so you will need to work through the clay to reach it (there is a big pit which seems to grow bigger each year using a backhoe in the spring, check out their website on dig dates). The nearby Columbia mine has fluorescent calcite and hydrozincite, plus sphalerite and galena. You can either work with a group or individually. The time I like to go is in early June when they have their show. Up to six former mine dumps are prepared for people to explore. Given patience, you can find some nice stuff.

As for fossils, well, anywhere there is bedrock you can find fossils. One great place to look is Millstone Bluff and old quarry which is now public access.

I would suggest checking out area rock clubs (unfortunately there are none in Champaign). Those in Springfield and Peoria are very active in terms of getting out and rock hunting.

Keith

22nd Feb 2013 03:35 UTCDavid Zimmerman (2)

Hi Keith,

Welcome to Mindat! :)-D

The Badger club in Monroe WI the most active field-trip club in the region and has some members from the Chicago and Milwaukee areas that have joined just to keep posted on the 12 trips they do each year. They collect at many of the locations you mentioned. I attended a trip with them to the Clements fluorite dig but most of us opted to dig at other locations the following days that were more productive.

Even though the dumps at Galena are old; a weekend trip to the city is worth it if you are into historical buildings and great scenery. I used to gain access to many old piles by just asking the nearest neighbor, but your easiest bet is to access private land through a rock-club trip. Some were very interesting, most are duds. You'll have to dig down 2 feet deep to truly assess the material quality though.

Also, the state geological survey does a lot of annual trips throughout the state, as does the Burpee Museum in Rockford.

Hope that helps out a bit. (tu)

22nd Feb 2013 04:34 UTCD Mike Reinke

Reed,

I went to the Shawnee forest HQ in Harrisburg a few years ago, they said they allow collecting at the West Green mine only, but it was more of a garbage dump than a mine dump, then. Policy may have changed, you could call. The Annabel Lee mine dumps seem workable, nothing posted there last year.

You might like beach combing Lake Michigan. I'm N. of Chicago, quite a drive for you, I dont know how the beaches at the bottom of the lake are. But check out my gallery for what I've found (and kept) from there.

The Park in Zion, Il. said they don't allow collecting; They stopped a friend of mine with a 5 gallon bucket; Said also that they don't want contractors taking everything, but they have never minded the smaller canvas bag I carry. They don't see any harm in picking up a few rocks. Take your mash hammer with, and go in cool weather. You'll have lots of shore to yourself.

If you go south, the Rosiclair Fluorite museum is good, and the tailings dumped there are fun to peruse. The Funk Museum 2 mi. S. of Bloomington Il. is amazing.

Hope this helps.

22nd Feb 2013 06:34 UTCRock Currier Expert

Reed,

There are many opportunities in southern Illinois in the fluorite district to collect, but unless you are satisfied with dump material you may need someone in the area to guide you to some of the interesting places to explore and collect, especially for any underground work in old mines. If you can find an old miner or collector to go with you and keep you out of trouble, my may find a whole new dimension to collecting. If you decide to do any underground collecting you will need a hard hat and a good light. You should not try this on your own.

22nd Feb 2013 15:56 UTCChris DeGrave Expert

Reed,

I lived in the area a few years ago. I did some exploring and met the gentleman who owns the Black Jack Mine property. He is open to allowing people to collect the dump (he does ask for a small donation or that you buy something from him to help defray property tax costs). My wife, kids, and I collected for an hour or so. You may have to do some digging (he was going to turn it over with his bulldozer, but I don't know if he has done it or not), but we found some ok pieces. I have his name and phone number. Private Message me if you're interested.

Chris DeGrave

25th Feb 2013 19:14 UTCAnonymous User

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