Where to Find Barite in Missouri

Missouri was once the largest barite producer in the United States, and Washington County ("Old Mines") is the historic core of that industry. Surface and shallow workings around Potosi and Old Mines yielded tabular blue, white, and yellow barite blades up to 15 centimeters across, often grown on bedded dolomite with quartz druse coatings. The Viburnum Trend mines further south add smaller honey-colored barite with the calcite-galena-sphalerite assemblage. Many old Washington County diggings are abandoned and reverted to private timberland; specimens still turn up in road and creek cuts. Field barite is heavy, brittle, and cleaves into three good planes.

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Every barite spot we track in Missouri

JoplinJasper County, MissouriPermission required · Apatite, Aragonite, Azurite +10
Cole CountyCole County, MissouriPublic access · Barite, Calcite, Cerussite +9
Eldon & EttervilleMoniteau County, MissouriPublic access · Barite, Calcite, Cerussite +8
Iron MountainSaint Francois County, MissouriPublic access · Yellow Garnet, Apatite, Barite +8
SpringfieldGreene County, MissouriPublic access · Barite, Calcite, Cerussite +7
St. Francois CountySaint Francois County, MissouriPublic access · Barite, Goethite, Pyrite +7
Copper Hill MineCrawford County, MissouriPermission required · Azurite, Barite, Chalcopyrite +6
Old MinesWashington County, MissouriPublic access · Barite, Calcite, Galena +6
Saint ClairFranklin County, MissouriPublic access · Anglesite, Galena, Barite +5
St. FrancisvilleClark County, MissouriPublic access · Geode, Barite, Calcite +5
Kansas CityJackson County, MissouriPublic access · Aragonite, Barite, Calcite +3
Crooked Creek CraterCrawford County, MissouriPublic access · Barite, Galena, Marcasite +2
St. Louis (barite area)Saint Louis County, MissouriPublic access · Barite, Calcite, Goethite +2
VersaillesMorgan County, MissouriPublic access · Barite

Best counties for barite in Missouri

Ranked by the number of mapped barite spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.

Crawford County2 spots
Saint Francois County2 spots
Clark County1 spot
Cole County1 spot
Franklin County1 spot
Greene County1 spot
Jackson County1 spot
Jasper County1 spot
Moniteau County1 spot
Morgan County1 spot
Saint Louis County1 spot
Washington County1 spot

Before you go

Read the barite identification guide so you know what a keeper looks like in the field: Barite in the encyclopedia.

Barite in Missouri FAQ

Where can you find barite in Missouri?+

The mapped spots concentrate in Crawford County, Saint Francois County, and Clark County. Known collecting areas include Old Mines and Potosi area (Washington County), Viburnum Trend dumps (Reynolds County), and Brushy Creek mine (Iron County). Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.

How many barite spots are mapped in Missouri?+

14 spots across 12 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.

Is it legal to collect barite in Missouri?+

Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 12 of the 14 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find barite

More minerals to hunt in Missouri

Hunt barite in Missouri with the map in your pocket

RockHoundR puts these spots on an offline map with BLM and Forest Service overlays, geology layers, and a log for your finds.