Mineral Museum @ Montana Tech

Come and discover the Mineral Museum @ Montana Tech. We are a free museum located on the Montana Tech campus. Our collection comprises over 13,000 specimens with approximately 1,300 on display, including a huge smoky quartz cluster called the Rheanna Star, a 27.5 ounce gold nugget found in the mountains nearby, world-famous Yogo sapphires, and beautifully polished Montana moss agates. We also have world-class specimens from all across the globe and a UV dark room where minerals glow under fluorescent light. Our collection has many stories to tell. We welcome you to come create some of your own!

Visit Us!

The museum is located on the Montana Tech campus, overlooking the historic mining city of Butte. Elevator access to the Mineral Museum is located between the Museum building and the Chemistry building. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated.

1300 W Park St, Butte, Montana 59701

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Contact Information

John Foley, Museum Assistant Curator
(406) 496-4414 | Email

Quick Links

Tours

Donations

Come with us on a short 360° video tour of the Mineral Museum @ Montana Tech. In this tour, you can navigate virtually to see some of the highlights of our mineral collection.

Walking Tour of Mineral Museum

The Everything Rocks Gift Shop is open every day that the museum is open. Come on in to explore our collection of rocks, minerals, books, and keepsakes.

Gift Shop

This video tells the story of a recent renovation at the Mineral Museum @ Montana Tech. Our goal was to preserve the geoheritage in our collection and our museum space while expanding museum floor displays, enhancing the space for community events, and ensuring the integrity of our collection.

History

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UV Room

Come in and see our fluorescent minerals in the ultraviolet (UV) room, and see drab minerals shine with color at the push of a button.

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Boris and Fossils

Come visit Boris, a 60,000-year-old cave bear skeleton from Siberia, and our collection of fossils from Montana and beyond.

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Centennial Gold Nugget

Come in and see the ultra-pure (97% Au), 28-ounce Centennial Gold Nugget, on permanent display at the Mineral Museum @ Montana Tech.

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Butte Minerals

Please visit and see our collection of Covellite and other minerals from Butte, MT.

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