Tristate Galena
Curated by Maggie Liu · Updated:
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. It lies at approximately 37.0800°N, 94.6400°W.
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" s…
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