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

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...

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...

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...

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...

Aunty Joan’s Dolly Mix

Step into a wonderland of dolls that look like they might come to life.

Like walking backstage into an opulent dressing room, ‘a cornucopia of swagged satin and velvet’. (Dolly Mix Facebook page) This museum is the passion of the late Aunty Joan (Duncan) Stewart, who...

Varley & Districts Museum

Intimate local collection near the 'Chicken Ranch' and Rabbit Cemetery.

This is an intimate museum with items donated by farmers and organisations in the district. The Varley & District Museum is near the Chicken Ranch, a welcoming overnight camp close to the Holland...

York Motor Museum

Petrol head pleasure at this motor palace

This Museum is a feast of everything vehicular, with over 70 cars and 15 motorbikes. There is a rotating display of vehicles and motor memorabilia over three main galleries. Don't forget to check out...