Where to Find Galena in Missouri

Galena is the lead ore mineral that made Missouri the largest U.S. lead producer for over a century. The Old Lead Belt around Bonne Terre and Flat River in St. Francois County yields massive cleavable galena in dolomite breccia, with cubic crystals in the deeper workings. The Viburnum Trend (Buick, Brushy Creek, Sweetwater, West Fork) produces sharp galena cubes up to several centimeters on dolomite with sphalerite, calcite, and pyrite associations. The Tri-State chat piles around Joplin add silver-rich galena in smaller crystal habits. Bonne Terre tours run through the flooded old mine and occasionally surface specimen-grade material.

Best counties for galena in Missouri

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

Crawford County2 spots
Iron County2 spots
Saint Francois County2 spots
Washington County2 spots
Benton County1 spot
Cole County1 spot
Franklin County1 spot
Greene County1 spot
Jasper County1 spot
Laclede County1 spot
Madison County1 spot
Moniteau County1 spot
Wright County1 spot

Every galena spot we track in Missouri

Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.

Spot	County	Minerals	Coordinates	Access
LincolnBenton County Northeast 281	Benton County	Chalcedony Chert Mozarkite Galena Jasper	38.3830, -93.2318	Public
Cole CountyMO BB	Cole County	Barite Calcite Cerussite Chalcopyrite Dolomite Hematite Galena Malachite +4 more	38.3686, -92.3916	Public
Crooked Creek CraterCedar Drive	Crawford County	Barite Galena Marcasite Pyrite Sphalerite	37.8330, -91.4113	Public
SteelvilleStoney Ridge Lane	Crawford County	Allophane Amethyst Azurite Dolomite Galena Goethite Hematite Malachite +4 more	38.0247, -91.2273	Public
Saint ClairRockyhill Trail	Franklin County	Anglesite Galena Barite Calcite Cerussite Pyrite Smithsonite Sphalerite	38.3020, -90.9191	Public
SpringfieldEast Chestnut Expressway	Greene County	Barite Calcite Cerussite Dickite Dolomite Galena Limonite Marcasite +2 more	37.2098, -93.2264	Public
Bixby	Iron County	Bornite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite Galena Malachite Marcasite Millerite Pyrite +1 more	37.6029, -91.1169	Public
GranitevilleCounty Road 96	Iron County	Actinolite Apatite Beryl Fluorite Galena Hematite Magnetite Orthoclase +2 more	37.6617, -90.6814	Public
JoplinNorth 3rd Street	Jasper County	Apatite Aragonite Azurite Barite Calcite Cerussite Chalcopyrite Chrysocolla +5 more	37.1950, -94.4756	Public
Decaturville CraterLilac Rd	Laclede County	Albite Galena Glauconite Limonite Marcasite Microcline Muscovite Opal +4 more	37.8930, -92.7085	Public
FredericktownCounty Road 274	Madison County	Aragonite Azurite Calcite Cerussite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite Dolomite Galena +5 more	37.6154, -90.2847	Public
Eldon & EttervilleHobby Horse Road	Moniteau County	Barite Calcite Cerussite Dolomite Galena Malachite Marcasite Pyrite +3 more	38.4400, -92.5802	Public
Iron Mountain	Saint Francois County	Yellow Garnet Apatite Barite Calcite Diopside Dolomite Epidote Fluorite +3 more	37.7092, -90.6343	Public
St. Francois CountyHawthorne Street	Saint Francois County	Barite Goethite Pyrite Quartz Cerussite Chalcopyrite Galena Malachite +2 more	37.8948, -90.5261	Public
Old MinesMO 21;MO 47	Washington County	Barite Calcite Galena Goethite Malachite Marcasite Pyrite Chert +1 more	38.0152, -90.7561	Public
PalmerPalmer Road	Washington County	Anglesite Calcite Cerussite Dolomite Galena Goethite Pyrite Quartz +1 more	37.8464, -90.9444	Public
MansfieldUS 60	Wright County	Galena Smithsonite Sphalerite Hemimorphite	37.1107, -92.5432	Public

Before you go

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

Galena in Missouri FAQ

Where can you find galena in Missouri?+

The mapped spots concentrate in Crawford County County, Iron County County, and Saint Francois County County. Known collecting areas include Bonne Terre and Flat River (St. Francois County), Sweetwater and West Fork mines (Reynolds County), and Joplin chat field (Jasper County). Every spot on this page appears on the map above with coordinates and access notes.

How many galena spots are mapped in Missouri?+

17 spots across 13 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 galena 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. 17 of the 17 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find galena

More minerals to hunt in Missouri

Hunt galena 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.