Minerals of the Tri-State Mining District and 
the Birth of Popular Mineral Collecting

5:30PM - Social at the Museum

6:00PM - Presentation at the RELC

Discover the legacy of the Tri-State Mining District in the Gillespie Museum's newest mineral exhibit. This historic mining region spans southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas, and northeastern Oklahoma, and was once one of the world’s most productive source of lead and zinc. The exhibit is curated by expert Dr. Sam Upchurch and the beautiful specimens on display are on loan from his personal collection.

Sam has spent more than 50 years teaching and conducting research in karst geomorphology and geochemistry, for which he is internationally known. He is the author of over 200 articles and chapters in books, and has edited several published collections of papers. He is a Senior Fellow of the Geological Society of America (GSA) and has received numerous awards for his research and service to the geological community. He is a former Professor and Chairman of Geology at the University of South Florida. Prior to joining the faculty at USF he taught at Michigan State University and served as a Research Physical Scientist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Captain, Retired) Great Lakes Research Center in Detroit, MI. He was appointed to serve on Florida’s first Board of Professional Geologists and is licensed to practice in Florida and Tennessee.

CULTURAL CREDIT AVAILABLE FOR SU STUDENTS