Tristate Galena

USA

The Tri-State district — spanning Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma (the Joplin–Picher region) — was one of the world's great lead–zinc fields, famous among collectors for large lustrous galena cubes and amber "ruby jack" sphalerite.

About Tristate Galenaextended article

A classic Mississippi-Valley-type lead–zinc field

The Tri-State district, centred on Joplin, Missouri and Picher, Oklahoma, was a major lead and zinc producer into the 20th century. Its Mississippi-Valley-type ore bodies, hosted in cherty limestone, yielded exceptionally well-crystallised sulfides and carbonates.

What collectors look for

Sharp, bright galena cubes and cubo-octahedra, gemmy amber-to-red "ruby jack" sphalerite, and associated calcite, dolomite, chalcopyrite, and marcasite are the signature Tri-State specimens.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Tristate Galena?

Tristate Galena is a mineral locality in USA.

What is Tristate Galena known for?

The Tri-State district — spanning Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma (the Joplin–Picher region) — was one of the world's great lead–zinc fields, famous among collectors for large lustrous galena cubes and amber "ruby jack" sphalerite.

References & databases

Mindat.org is the world’s largest open mineralogy database.