Preserving Collections from the Western Kentucky Fluorspar and South-Central Kentucky Mineral Districts

Abstract Rescue and increase access to critical mineral core collection from the Western Kentucky Fluorspar and South-Central Kentucky Mineral Districts We propose to rescue approximately 180 Kentucky Western Fluorspar and South-Central Mineral District cores representing an estimated 128,870 linear feet of subsurface material. Exposure to the elements deteriorated many of the wooden trays destabilizing the stacks of core on each pallet and identifying markers faded or were lost. In 2019 and 2020, staff funded through NGGDPP and EarthMRI worked to identify and relocate these cores indoors following a three-year stint outside. Many of the individual trays had to be replaced with traditional cardboard core boxes prior to relocation to the indoor repository. If funded, the KGS will finish rescuing the entire collection of cores by rehousing, labeling, identifying lithology and secondary features, and photographing each core box. This will preserve, create, and make available existing and new data for researchers.