The museum serves as the state repository for Colorado's mineral heritage and promotes its importance and understanding to the university community and the public. It aims to inspire scientific curiosity through education and research while encouraging appreciation of the earth and responsibility for its mineral, fossil, meteorite and historic mining treasures.

The Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum, home to one of the state's two Goodwill moon rocks collected during the Apollo 17 mission, was started in 1874 and displays mineral, fossil, gemstone, meteorite and historic mining artifact exhibits on two floors.

The Mines Geology Museum Gift Shop is on the lower level of the building. The shop features surplus mineral specimens, lapidary materials and equipment, fossils, books, fluorescent minerals, starter kits and related materials. Specimens range from “starter” pieces for less than $1, to fine specimens for the advanced collector.