MISSOURI STATE SYMBOLS   STATE MINERAL   Galena

 

In 1967, galena was adopted as the official mineral of Missouri. Galena mining flourished in the Joplin-Granby area in Southwest Missouri, which is part of the Tri-State Mining District. Rich deposits are also located in Crawford, Washington, Iron and Reynolds Counties. Lead mining was a big draw for early European and American settlers of Missouri. Missouri’s Doe Run Mines and nearby Buick Mine comprise the second-largest lead mining district in the world.

Galena is a major source of lead ore. Missouri is the nation’s top producer of primary lead ore, and the United States ranks third in the world behind China and Peru for production. In 2019, the U.S. produced 280,000 metric tons of lead. Ninety-three percent of America’s lead ore is used for lead-acid batteries. (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020 pp. 94-95)

 

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Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo)

§10.047. State mineral. – The mineral “galena” is the official mineral of Missouri. (L. 1967 p. 93 § 1)

approved 21 July 1967
effective 28 August 1967

 

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Photo Gallery:

Click on an image below to enlarge and read a caption. This will open a new window in the Missouri State Symbols Flickr album.

 

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Additional Resources:

View the “Riches from the Earth” Collection by the Powers Museum et al., available through Missouri Digital Heritage online.

View the “Tri-State Mining Maps” Collection by Missouri Southern State University, available though Missouri Digital Heritage online.

 

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