Gems & Minerals

Unearth dazzling specimens
Learn how minerals form
Discover a six-foot wall of rhodochrosite

Hours

Museum is open daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. We are closed December 25.

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Discovery Zone

On Permanent Display
This interactive educational center is geared toward children and families who like fun, hands-on activities.

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Location: Level 1

Got your hard hat? In Coors Mineral Hall, follow the mine shaft into a Mexican silver mine, where a cavern glistens with milky white gypsum crystals and stalactites. Then enter Colorado's own Sweet Home Mine to discover a six-foot wall of blood-red rhodochrosite crystals.

Colorado was founded on mining, and in the historical mining section you'll see more local finds, like Tom's Baby, an eight-pound nugget of crystallized gold unearthed in Breckenridge in 1887.

You'll also uncover Brazilian topaz, California watermelon tourmaline, Australian opals, intense blue azurite, green malachite, four-inch zeolite needle sprays from India, and hundreds of other dazzling specimens from around the world. Hands-on activities and videos help young explorers learn about mineral characteristics and how minerals form.