WA School of Mines Mineral Museum Overview

WA School of Mines Mineral Museum

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Be mesmerised by minerals.

More than just rocks of the region, this collection is a learning tool, with mineral specimens from all around the world, housed in a beautiful heritage building. The minerals include sulphides, like pyrite or fool’s gold; carbonates such as calcspar and dolomite; and native elements such as graphite. Unfortunately, there are no diamonds in the collection! The mineral samples were used as teaching aids at the WA School of Mines, which first opened in Coolgardie in 1902, and then relocated to Kalgoorlie a few years later.

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Address:

117 Egan Street
Kalgoorlie WA 6430
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9088 6170

Email:

WASM-MECEAdministration@curtin.edu.au

Opening Hours

Mon to Fri 9am - 4:30pm

Malachite from Murin Murin

Viridescent deposit

Malachite, a carbonate of copper, is one of the oldest known green pigments. Malachite was used as an indicator of the presence of copper. This sample is from the Anaconda copper mine near Murin Murin...

Staurolite

Twinning

Staurolite, a silicate, is used in geology as an 'index mineral'. This means it is used to estimate depth, temperature and pressure changes to rock, like movement of the earth’s crust or magma...

Pyrite from Broad Arrow

Listen to the rocks talk

Minerals like galena and pyrite were used as conductors in early crystal radios. If you wrap chicken wire around a large pyrite sample and shape it into a dish, you can pick up radio waves. It is as...

The Newdegate Historical Society

Step back in time in the country to do some shopping in the 1950's.

Celebrating the heyday of the Hainsworth shop, café, and shop owner's quarters, you will feel as if you have walked straight into the 1950's. The Newdegate Historical Society has lovingly restored the...

Hood Penn Museum

A family collection which turned in to a museum

This quirky museum includes several very realistic mannequins, including the friendly bartender from the old Edna May Hotel Bar! The collection was acquired as a donation from the Hood-Penn family...

Kulin Museum and Men’s Shed Inc.

Old Butler's Garage is a hub for the community.

The Kulin Museum and Men’s Shed is housed in the original Butler’s Garage which was opened in 1938. The collection includes cars, trucks, machinery, tractors, implements and a settler's cottage...

City of Kalgoorlie - Boulder Art Collection

City's art collection

In 1955 Claude Hotchin gave a collection of 32 art works to the Municipality of Kalgoorlie. The Claude Hotchin Bequest includes important works by Ernest Philpot, Hans Heysen and Walter Ebatarinja, an...