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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.

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Every sphalerite spot we track in Missouri

Standout sphalerite spots in Missouri

Hand-picked from the full list above, with the reason each one earns a trip.

Best counties for sphalerite in Missouri

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

Before you go

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

Sphalerite in Missouri FAQ

Where can you find sphalerite in Missouri?+
The mapped spots concentrate in Jefferson County, Buchanan County, and Clark County. Known collecting areas include Joplin chat piles, ruby jack (Jasper County), Sweetwater mine (Reynolds County), and Brushy Creek and Buick mines (Iron and Reynolds counties). Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.
How many sphalerite spots are mapped in Missouri?+
24 spots across 23 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 sphalerite 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. 23 of the 24 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.

Where else to find sphalerite

More minerals to hunt in Missouri

Hunt sphalerite 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.

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