Rosiclare in Hardin County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Fluorite Mining

Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 11, 2020

1. Fluorite Mining Marker

Inscription. Fluorite, the official Illinois state mineral, was discovered in 1839 by James Anderson while digging a well near Fairview Landing one half mile SW of this site. Fluorite was a waste product until the steel industry began using the mineral in their open hearth process in 1888. Rosiclare Lead and Fluorspar Mining Co., located 255 yards NW of this site, was the first major producer of fluorite. The largest and deepest fluorite mines in the world are located in Hardin County. For many years these mines have produced about three-fourths of the fluorite mined in the United States.

Erected 1994 by Hardin County Historical and Genealogical Society & Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.

Location. 37° 25.403′ N, 88° 20.836′ W. Marker is in Rosiclare, Illinois, in Hardin County. It is on Main Street (Illinois Route 34) west of Walnut Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at

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or near this postal address: Co Rd 1, Rosiclare IL 62982, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Illinois — Little Egypt

and in Shawnee Hills.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rosiclare: The Fluorite Center of Hardin County, the United States and the World (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Ohio River Scenic Byway (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mine It, Mill It, Ship It (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Elizabethtown First Baptist Church (approx. 2.8 miles away); Anna Bixby Trail/Historic Rose Hotel (approx. 2.8 miles away); Welcome to the Historic Rose Hotel Bed and Breakfast (approx. 2.8 miles away); War Memorial (approx. 2.8 miles away); You Are Not Forgotten (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by Jason Voigt, August 11, 2020

2. Fluorite Mining Marker

near the entrance of American Fluorite Museum

of all markers in Rosiclare.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 822 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.