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Rosiclare: Calcite & Blue Fluorite Rockhounding in Hardin County, Illinois

Public accessBest spot5 mineralsHardin County, IllinoisUpdated July 2026
Minerals reported
5
Elevation
380 ft
Best months
February to December

Rosiclare was the milling and shipping center of the Illinois fluorspar industry, and its sub-district produced the deep-blue and purple cubic fluorite that made the state mineral famous. The old Rosiclare and Fairview workings along the Ohio River bluffs rank among the most historically productive fluorite localities in North America. The town's American Fluorite Museum, in the former Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Mining Company office, documents the district. Reported finds include calcite, blue fluorite, yellow fluorite, purple fluorite, sphalerite. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Nearest road
4th Street
Postcode
62982
Get directionsView on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Access note: The mine dumps are on private land and require permission, and there is no open public mine access. The American Fluorite Museum in town interprets the district and is the reliable legal starting point. Organized rock-club field trips and scheduled digs are the most dependable way to collect district fluorite. Hardin County, on Illinois Route 34 along the Ohio River.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Best time to visit Rosiclare

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: February to December. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 41°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 22°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, ELIZABETHTOWN station (2 mi away).

Geology at Rosiclare

This spot sits on St. Louis Limestone, mapped as limestone that formed roughly 345 to 330 million years ago. Carbonate rock like this is the classic host for lead, zinc, and fluorite mineralization, which typically follows old cavities and replacement zones.

Mapped unit
St. Louis Limestone
Age
345–330 Ma (Mississippian)
Rock types
limestone
Elevation
380 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

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Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Found at Rosiclare

Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Rosiclare.

Across the state line from Rosiclare

Rosiclare is close enough to the Illinois border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Rosiclare FAQ

Where is Rosiclare?+
Rosiclare is in Hardin County, Illinois, at 37.43096, -88.34218. Nearest road: 4th Street.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Rosiclare?+
Rosiclare is reported to produce Calcite, Blue Fluorite, Yellow Fluorite, Purple Fluorite, Sphalerite.
Is collecting allowed at Rosiclare?+
Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
What tools should I bring to Rosiclare?+
A rock hammer, gloves, and safety glasses cover old mining-district ground. Stay out of shafts and adits; the best specimens typically come from dump piles.
When is the best time to visit Rosiclare?+
The most comfortable months at Rosiclare are February to December.
How do I get to Rosiclare?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 37.43096, -88.34218 in Google Maps. The nearest road is 4th Street.

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