Where to Find Sphalerite in Missouri

Missouri sphalerite is the zinc half of the lead-zinc ores that built the Tri-State and Old Lead Belt camps. Tri-State sphalerite from the Joplin field is the famous "ruby jack," a deep red translucent variety that crystallized in dolomite vugs alongside galena, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. The Viburnum Trend mines south of Salem (Sweetwater, Buick, Brushy Creek) yield brown-to-amber sphalerite tetrahedrons and dodecahedrons, often resin-clear in the best cores. The Old Lead Belt around Bonne Terre adds smaller honey-yellow crystals on dolomite matrix. Cleavable masses are common; well-terminated single crystals are the prize and concentrate on the deeper Viburnum dumps. The most productive ground is in Joplin chat piles, ruby jack (Jasper County), Sweetwater mine (Reynolds County), Brushy Creek and Buick mines (Iron and Reynolds counties).

Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like sphalerite is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in Missouri, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always confirm rules before a trip.

Joplin chat piles, ruby jack (Jasper County) is the standout. Other strong ground includes Sweetwater mine (Reynolds County), Brushy Creek and Buick mines (Iron and Reynolds counties).