TRI-STATE DISTRICT MINERALS

by Mark Sherwood
The majority of the mineral specimens collected in this area are usually labeled merely as
"Joplin" or "Joplin District", without distinguishing the specific mine. Specimens are often labeled
simply "Tri-State District" and may be from outside Missouri, since the the mineralized area
extends to Galena, Treece, and Baxter Springs, Kansas and Picher, Oklahoma. More precise
guesses at the origin of otherwise unlabeled Tri-District specimens should not be attempted.
The following is a general survey of the minerals, their relative abundance, and a concise
summary of their properties. It is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all occurrences of
the minerals within the district.
PRIMARY MINERALS
Galena: PbS (Lead) Very Common. The most common ore oflead in the Tri-State. Silver
gray to gray crystals displaying the cube, octahedron, or a combination. Perfect cubic
cleavage. Bright metallic silver color on fresh fractures or cleavages. Contains about 1 3/4
ounce of silver per ton. Crystals occur in very large sizes, up to at least 24 inches. Usually
cubic, less commonly octahedral or cuba-octahedral. Crystals often display complex parallel
twining or hopper forms. Spinel twinning is rarely seen.

~""'

Sphalerite. ZnS. Very Common. (Black Jack, Rosin Jack, Ruby Jack). The principle ore of
zinc and found nearly everywhere in the District. Easily found in several varieties:
Ruby Jack: Bright yellow to orange to red tetrahedrons, commonly with curved edges and
faces.
Rosin Jack: Brown crystals and crystalline masses
Black Jack: Larger, black, opaque crystals, with submetallic luster, up to several inches in
size. Black sphalerite generally has a higher iron content than lighter-colored varieties.

Sphalerite is most often is found as distorted isometric tetrahedra. Tetrahedral faces are small,
minutely pitted and rough~ other faces are lustrous and are commonly united to produce subconical forms. Spinel law twinning is common and often repeated twinning is present.
Sphalerite crystals range in color from nearly colorless to yellow or orange in very small
crystals. Red, semitransparent crystals (miner's name- ruby jack) may be up to about Y2 inch
in size. Larger crystals may be brown (rosin jack) or black (blackjack). The larger black
crystals contain more iron than the other varieties and may display more complex faces . The
luster of crystals or crystalline material is resinous in rosin jack or ruby jack to vitreous or
submetallic in black jack. Tri-State District sphalerite often have some cadmium, gallium, and
germanium present. A bright yellow coating of greenockite may be present on some
sphalerite crystals. Sphalerite crystals may have an iridescent coating of covellite, or bornite
or epitaxially oriented chalcopyrite crystals.
Calcite, CaC03 , "Tiff" (Note that "tiff' is the miner' s name for barite in most other areas)
Common: Common in large, well-formed crystals in a multitude of forms. Particularly
noteworthy examples include~
Scalenohedral "dogtooth" colorless to white to yellow crystals to 2 feet long.
Violet to lilac to pink rhombohedral twinned crystals to 1 to 2 feet.

"Stairstep" white to gray rhombohedral multiple twins with included chalcopyrite.

Prismatic crystals with rhombohedral terminations that are colorless to white to yellow
and up to one foot long.
Numerous other forms are known.

Marcasite, FeS2, "Mundie" (in part). Common as splendid "cockscomb" sprays of crystals with
individual crystals to 1h inch. As stalactitic aggregates. Specimens require careful curation to
prevent decomposition which fonns melanterite, copiapite, perhaps other iron sulfates, and
sulfuric acid. Care is needed to prevent damage to the cabinet and other specimens stored
with marcasite.

Pyrite, FeS 2. "Mundie" (in part), Common. Frequently as the cubic form, which is often curved
or otherwise distorted. The pyritohedron and octahedron faces are also common. Less
common than marcasite. Alters to goethite (limonite), melanterite, copiapite, other iron
sulfates, and sulfuric acid.

Chalcopyrite, CuFeS2> Common. Found as simple, lustrous, golden tetrahedrons on surfaces

covered with curved light pink dolomite crystals. Frequently an inclusion in calcite crystals.
Often found in epitaxially oriented growths on the surface of sphalerite crystals, with faces of
the chalcopyrite crystals on parallel planes so that reflections from the surface of each
chalcopyrite face is seen simultaneously. Crystal surfaces are often tarnished reddish purple.

Quartz: Si02 . Very Common. Ubiquitous as a component of the "jasperoid"or brecciated chert

matrix. Quartz is commonly seen as very small, sparkling crystals on chert fracture surfaces.
Later deposited distinct crystals are less common and usually not over one inch in size.
Quartz crystals occur in drusy coatings particularly at the Ballard Mine, Baxter Springs,
Kansas. Usually found as early, very small crystals on the surfaces ofvughs and fractures.

Wurtzite, ZnS. Rare from the Zig Zag Mine, Combination Mine and possibly other mines of the
Joplin area, as hexagonal pyramidal, hemimorphic crystals up to 2mm diameter. The crystals
were implanted on their points on botryoidal sphalerite. Found as concentrically banded
stalactites from 1/64 to 1 inch diameter at the Zig Zag Mine in north Joplin.

Barite, BaS04, Uncommon. As rosettes and cockscomb aggregates of small, white crested
crystals; as light blue, blocky frosted crystals, as discrete, thin, white, rectangular crystals.
Most crystals have a pale blue-green tint.

CoveUite, CuS, Very Rare as thin, blue-black coatings on sphalerite, known by miners as
"Schoolhouse Blue". It occurs in the Joplin District near the site of a schoolhouse and also in
Galena, Kansas in the Big Coon Mine on West Seventh Street. It is often altered to
malachite.

Aragonite CaC03 Uncommon. Masses of white to gray needle-like crystals in the main TriState district and Granby.

Bornite, CusFeS 4, Very Rare. Thin coatings on galena, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite
Millerite: NiS. Very Rare.
2

Allopbaoe, A12Si05 .H2 0 . Rare. Found at the Big Coon Mine near Galena, Kansas as a thin
incrustation with a botryoidal surface, associated with chert. Amorphous. Colorless to light
brown or green, subtranslucent. Also found as light greenish blue material from the Irene
Mine, Empire, Kansas.
Enargite, Cu3AsS4 , Rare, as silver-gray to dark-grey metallic bladed or rarely prismatic crystals,
usually single, but occasionally in clusters of a few individuals. Almost invariably found in the
presence of chalcopyrite. Crystals usually do not exceed 3x2xl mm.
Luzonite, C~CuAsS 4 . Rare. As crystals, less than 2mm across, associated with chalcopyrite on
dolomite. Crystals are composed of a crystal "spine" with a second, shorter spine at the
midpoint and at right angles to the main spine, and a curved "web" stretching between the two
spines. The overall shape, viewed from the side is like a tiny single-masted sailing ship with a
sail fore and aft of the "mast." Many specimens have third spike at right angles to the first
two. They are grey or bronze in color often with a pinkish cast and with metallic luster.
These are frequently perched on chalcopyrite crystals that have a corroded appearance.
Presence of enargite seems to be required and specimens with complex assemblages such as
enargite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and marcasite together on the same specimen all seem more
favorable for presence of luzonite. Luzonite is more common in the Kansas and Oklahoma
subdistricts.
Asphalt "Tar" Common. Although it is not a mineral species, it should be mentioned due to its
wide distribution in the District. Asphalt is common in deposits, coating mineral crystals or
partially filling vughs. It may appear as brown films coating crystals. Originally trapped on
top of ground water, this light tar coated the contents of many cavities as the water table was
lowered through mining operations. It is found impregnating many porous rocks locally.

SECONDARY MINERALS
Auricbalcite, (Zn, Cu 2+) 5( C03) 2( OH)6, Rare. Radial aggregates of monoclinic crystals with free
ends. From the Big Coon Mine, Galena, Kansas, associated with cerussite, linarite,
caledonite, malachite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, chrysocolla, cuprite, and covellite. From
Granby as bluish-green globular aggregates. From the Shinn Mine, Stark City, Newton
County with hemimorphite, sphalerite, covellite, malachite, and dolomite.
Azurite, Cu3+2(C03) 2 (0H)2, Very Rare. Small, intense blue crystals resembling linarite, which is
more common.
Aluminite: A12(S04)(0H)4.7H20. Very Rare. Reported from Joplin as a coating on limestone.
Anglesite, PbS04 Common. Jasper and Newton Counties as an alteration of galena on dumps
and oxidized zones of deposits. Usually found coating, as surface replacements, or as
pseudomorphs of galena with galena cores. Crystals of anglesite were found at the Bonanza
ground, northeast of Galena and at the Mitchell shaft on the Schermerhorn ground, west of
Galena, Kansas.

Caledonite, Pb 5Cu2(C03)(S04) 3(0H)6 Very Rare. Small quantities occur as a green, crystalline
coating associated with linarite, aurichalcite, and cerussite at the Big Coon Mine, Galena,
Kansas.

Cerussite, PbC03 "Dry Bone Ore", Locally Common: Small clear and smoky gray crystals in
pockets on stalactitic sphalerite, containing some galena. Twins are common. Also as
branching stalactites, white, fibrous masses and earthy. Usually white, but also yellow, ,green,
brown, or black. Forms pseudomorphs after galena.

Chalcanthite, CuS04 .5H20 . Rare. Found at the Irene Min at Empire City as small, blue
columnar crystals associated with sphalerite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. Chalcanthite is a water
soluble, probably transient mineral derived from decomposition of copper minerals

ChrysocoUa, (Cu,Al)2H 2 Si20 5(0H)4.nH20 . Rare. Thins bluish-green seams associated with
other copper minerals at the Big Coon Mine, Galena, Kansas.
Copiapite, Fe2~e3+4(S04)6(0H)2 .20H20. Rare. Bright yellow, orange, flesh or gray, stalactitic or
botryoidal crusts. An alteration product of pyrite, marcasite, and chalcopyrite. It is often
mistaken for sulfur. Copiapite has been found at Galena, and Cave Springs, especially at the
Pilgrim Mine.

Cuprite, CuO. Rare, but perhaps more common than generally recognized. At the Big Coon
Mine at Galena, Kansas, as a central core of dark red cuprite surrounded by massive
malachite.

Diadochite, Fe3\ (P04)(S04)(0H).6H20 Very Rare. Found at the Central Mine in the Picher
Field as a pale pinkish-gray efllorecence.

Dolomite, CaMgC03 , "Spar'' Common as fine white to light pink, curved rhombohedral crystals
covering fracture surfaces and forming attractive bases for many later forming minerals. Pearly
luster. Also found as gray, granular crystalline material. Pseudomorphs of smithsonite and
hemimorphite are found, especially at Granby. Often associated with chalcopyrite crystals.

Epsomite, MgS04 .7H20 . Epsomite forms a series with goslarite, with complete range of
composition between the two. Like goslarite, epsomite occurs as a transient mine wall
efllorescence where acidic solutions formed by decomposition of iron sulfides has contacted
dolomite.

Fluorapatite: Cas(P04) 3F. Common. Minute colorless hexagonal prisms found in thin section of
jasperoid material.

Goethite, FeO(OH). Common. This earthy reddish-brown iron oxide is an alteration product of
iron sulfides including marcasite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. It may be found as pseudomorphs
after these minerals.

Goslarite, ZnS04 .7H20 "Acid" Uncommon. Usually a white powder on the surface of old
workings especially where unmined sphalerite was present. Formed by decomposition of
sphalerite or by action of acidic water on other zinc minerals, such as smithsonite. It occurs as

white, fibrous masses and capillary crystals and botryoidal and stalactitic incrustations.
Goslarite usually loses water and crumbles to a fine white powder. Since goslarite is water
soluble, its existence is transient.

Greenockite, CdS, Common as yellow, microscopic coatings, usually on sphalerite and

occasionally coating other surfaces. May be included in crystals of smithsonite or
hemimorphite causing a bright yellow or olive green color.
Gypsum, CaS04 .2H20, Common as a transparent, colorless crystals and "fuzzy'' needles.
Usually found on walls and previously broken rock. Formed where decomposition of iron
sulfides by weathering, often post-mining, have produced dilute solutions of sulfuric acid,
which acted on calcite, dolomite, or limestone.
Hematite F~0 3 . Common as a soft, red stain on rocks throughout the District. Also found as
thin, black, botryoidal incrustation with metallic luster in Cooper Hollow in the eastern part of
Galena.
Hemimorphite, Zn4 Si20 7(0H)2 .H2 0 "Calamine" Locally Common. Originally common in nearsurface deposits, especially in the Joplin, Webb City, Oronogo, Aurora, and Granby subdistricts. Usually coating cavities as masses of small, bladed euhedral crystals; in aggregates
(boxwork) and crystalline masses (dry bone ore). Transparent and colorless or white. It may
be colored yellow or yellowish green by greenockite. Often associated with smithsonite and,
at Granby, with dolomite. Frequently coating calcite crystals or forming casts after calcite
crystals or dolomite. At Granby it may be found as pseudomorphs after sphalerite.
Hydrozincite, "White Jack." Zf1s(C03) 2(0H)6 Uncommon, but locally plentiful in oxidized
zones, such as Oronogo, Webb City, and Granby, and old workings as bright white
(fluorescent blue under shortwave or white under longwave ultraviolet light), coating or
incrustation on or near other zinc minerals, especially sphalerite. Sometimes a mammillary or
stalactitic form is observed that is composed of concentric layers.
Jarosite, KF~(S04)2(0H) 6 . Rare, but perhaps more common than generally recognized.
Kaolinite: Al2 Si20s(OH)4 , a clay. Rare. As white powder in cavities in chert at the Tree Toad
Mine northeast of Galena and at the Midas Mine in the Picher Field. The powder consists of
minute hexagonal plates.
Lanarkite, Pb20(S04) . Very Rare. Reported, possibly as a surface film on galena.
LeadhiUite, Pb4(S04)(C03) 2(0H)2, Rare, but locally as excellent crystals, especially in the Granby
area. Reported especially from the Beer Cellar Mine. Thick, hexagonal tablets or slender
hexagonal prisms and parallel aggregates, masses, and crusts, pseudomorphous after galena
and calcite. Colorless in small crystals to clear sea-green in larger crystals. Reported from the
Big Coon Mine at Galena, Kansas.
Linarite: PbCu 2+(S04)(0H)2 . Very Rare. Found at the Big Coon Mine, Galena, associated with
cerussite, caledonite, malachite, and aurichalcite.

Malachite, C~+2(C03)(0H)2 . Uncommon. As small hemispheres of radiating crystals or minute

green spots, scales, and plates. Widely distributed throughout the district, but always in small
amounts, associated with other copper minerals. At the Big Coon Mine, at Galena malachite
surrounds massive cuprite. Also found coating covellite pseudomorphs after sphalerite.
Melanterite, FeS04 .7H20 . "Copperas." Common. An alteration of pyrite, marcasite, and
chalcopyrite that occurs especially after specimens that have been cleaned by washing. It
appears as a white powder or crystalline fibers. Specimens of iron sulfides may fall to pieces
after a time in museum cases. Also found as watery, green fibrous crusts.
Mimetite: Pb5(As04) 3Cl. Very Rare. Thin encrustation on galena at Seneca, Newton County
and from the Sucker Flats in the Webb City area.
Picropharmacolite: Ca4Mg(As030H)2 (As04h 11H20 . Very rare, was reported as a coating on
dolomite (Genth 1890)
Plumbojarosite, PbFe(S04 ) 4 . Very Rare. Reported as a possible alteration of jarosite.
Pyrolusite: Mn02 . Rare and possibly actually other manganese oxides such as todorokite.
Reported as a soft, black mineral from a mine west of Black Hill in western Galena, Kansas
and from Aurora. Common as dendritic marking on rocks throughout the district.
Pyromorphite, Pb5(P04) 3Cl. Uncommon, but present locally in sufficient quantity to have
required special ore dressing techniques near Saginaw, Newton County. Found at Granby,
Lone Elm, Joplin, Galena, Roaring Springs, east of Duenweg, and in the Oronogo area.
Bright green, hexagonal prismatic crystals, tapered at the ends, generally not larger than 4 mm
long, but occasionally up to 1 em long. Steep pyramidal crystals from west of the Black Hill
west of Galena, Kansas. Pyromorphite has been found as psuedomorphs after galena as
crusts with parts of the cubic outline visible. Occurs at Lone Elm as botryoidal and stalactitic
forms coated with cerussite crystals.
Smithsonite, ZnC03 "Turkey Fat Ore or Carbonate" Common in deposits; uncommon as
specimens, abundant locally in oxidized, near surface deposits, especially around Webb City,
Aurora, Granby, and Oronogo Missouri. The second most common zinc ore. Individual
crystals to 1 mm average size can be found but smithsonite is most common as nearly
spherical or botryoidal aggregates. Srnithsonite ranges from nearly colorless, white to gray to
black, to yellow, greenish-gray, bluish, or occasionally brown. It is subtranslucent to
translucent. The yellow botryoidal variety is known by the miner's term "turkey fat ore., The
yellow color is due to admixed greenockite. Smithsonite often is found as pseudomorphs or
epimorphs after calcite, especially at Granby.
Starkeyite, MgS04 .4H20 . Another white efflorescence found on mine walls.
Sulfur: S8. Rare. Minute crystals possibly formed by decomposition of sulfides. Sulfur is often
reported in the midwest as a product of decomposition of metallic sulfides. These
occurrences often are found to be copiapite on careful examination.
Szomolnokite: FeS04 .H 20. Rare. Szomolnokite forms a portion ofthe efflorescence that forms

along with melanterite during the decomposition of pyrite. It is usually associated with
copiapite.

Wavellite: Very Rare. as small, white radiating crystals on chert.

Biblio~raphy

Buckley, E. R and Buehler, H. A 1905. The Geology of the Granby Area. Missouri Bureau of
Geology and Mines. 120pp.
Hagni, Richard. 1976. Tri-State ore deposits: The character of their host rocks and their genesis.
Handbook of strata bound and stratiform ore deposits. Elsevier, New York. Volume 6.
Mandarino, Joseph H. and Back, Malcolm E. 2004. Fleischer 's Glossary ofMineral Species
2004. 9th Edition. The Mineralogical Record, Inc. Tucson, Arizona. 309pp.
McKnight, E.T. and Fischer, R.P. 1970. Geology and ore deposits of the Picher field, Oklahoma
and Kansas. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 588. 165pp.
Ritchie, Everett. 1986. Guidebook to the Tri-State Mineral Museum . A&J Printing, Noca,
Missouri. 83pp.
Rogers, AF. 1904.. Minerals of the Galena-Joplin lead and zinc district. Kansas Geological
Survey Report 8. University Geological Survey of Kansas
Sherwood, Mark D., and Williams, Glenn. 1998 "Missouri Mineral Locality Index." Rocks and
Minerals. 73:2:98-117
Wheeler, H.A. 1890. "Recent additions to the mineralogy ofMissouri". Transactions of the St.
Louis Academy of Science. pp 126-131.