Missouri Lead Belt
The Missouri Lead Belt is located in southeast Missouri, comprising both the Old Lead Belt and the New Lead Belt (the active Viburnum Trend). The official state mineral for Missouri is Galena, which is the major source of lead ore. Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s Missouri was the world leader in the production of lead. Long before Missouri became a state, it was a source of lead mining dating back to French explorers in the early 1720s. Missouri also mines barium and zinc ores, which tend to be proximate to lead mining areas.[1]
It is estimated that more than 17 million tons, at a value of nearly $5 billion, has been produced in lead from Missouri since its beginning in the early 1700s. Currently Missouri has the largest active American primary lead smelter (Herculaneum) and the largest secondary lead smelter (Buick) in the entire world.
In addition to the Lead Belt, lead is also mined in central and southwest Missouri (extending into Kansas and Oklahoma).