Provenite

Joplin Field

AreaClosedDraft data

37.0842° N, 94.5131° W · ± 10 km

Galena, Marcasite, Quartz and Sphalerite from Missouri, United States, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

GalenaMarcasiteQuartzSphalerite

On the same specimen

Same specimen Marcasite growing on Galena

Joplin marcasite is described as bladed brassy crystals, sometimes arranged in parallel orientation on grey galena cubes or octahedra; marcasite also lines corrosion cavities in galena.

The pale brassy blades against dark lead-grey galena is a classic Tri-State look and shows an oriented growth relationship.

Sources: SRC-015

Same specimen Marcasite growing on Quartz

The same Joplin description lists quartz among the surfaces on which the bladed marcasite crystals sit, next to galena, sphalerite, calcite, chert and jasperoid.

Glittering marcasite on clear or milky quartz is a sought-after contrast of sulfide and silicate.

Sources: SRC-015

Same specimen Sphalerite with Marcasite

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show marcasite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Calcite with Sphalerite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with calcite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Chalcopyrite with Sphalerite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with chalcopyrite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Dolomite with Sphalerite

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite with dolomite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Galena at Joplin Field

Gray cubic galena in cavities of cherty carbonate, typically with golden-amber calcite and red-brown 'ruby jack' sphalerite

Large galena specimen with hoppered crystal faces, individual crystals to about 3.5 cm.
Large galena specimen with hoppered crystal faces, individual crystals to about 3.5 cm.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Isolated galena crystals with micro-stepped faces on a contrasting matrix.
Isolated galena crystals with micro-stepped faces on a contrasting matrix.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
PbS
Morphology
Cubes, modified cubes, cuboctahedra and octahedral growth; also seams and cement in chert breccia
Typical size
Commonly 1-3 cm crystals; cubes around 5 cm on edge are much less common
Color / luster
Steel-gray to battleship-gray metallic; older pieces duller, gunmetal
Associated minerals
Chertdolomitecalcitesphaleritemarcasitepyritechalcopyritequartzjasperoid
Surface features
Hoppered or stepped crystal faces
Availability
Unknown
History
Commercial Tri-State ore was first found around 1838; between 1850 and 1950 the district gave about half of US zinc and a tenth of US lead, and the last active mine closed in 1970. Small-scale mining at Turkey Creek in Joplin began in 1849.

Sources: SRC-046 SRC-051 SRC-052

About Galena →

Marcasite at Joplin Field

Archetypal Tri-State cockscomb marcasite on carbonate or Pb-Zn sulfide matrix

Bladed marcasite crystals attached to a cluster of galena cubes with sphalerite from the Joplin Field.
Bladed marcasite crystals attached to a cluster of galena cubes with sphalerite from the Joplin Field.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A second view of the marcasite, galena and sphalerite combination specimen from the Joplin Field.
A second view of the marcasite, galena and sphalerite combination specimen from the Joplin Field.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Sparkling marcasite crystals on quartz crystals over silicified limestone and sphalerite, Joplin Field.
Sparkling marcasite crystals on quartz crystals over silicified limestone and sphalerite, Joplin Field.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
FeS₂
Morphology
Cockscomb fans; bladed spearhead aggregates
Typical size
Typically centimetric fans
Color / luster
Pale brass-yellow to silvery metallic
Associated minerals
Dolomitegalenasphaleritequartzcalcitechert
Surface features
Sharp blades and glittering late sulfide coatings
Twins
Repeated spearhead twins on {101}
Availability
Scarce
History
Historic mid-nineteenth- to twentieth-century Tri-State Pb-Zn mining field

Sources: SRC-015

About Marcasite →

Quartz at Joplin Field

Formula
SiO₂

Sources: SRC-015

About Quartz →

Sphalerite at Joplin Field

Sphalerite there occurs as crystals lining cavities in cherty Mississippian limestone.

Two-sided cabinet specimen of lustrous, twinned and striated black sphalerite crystals to 3 cm with dolomite rhombs on silicified limestone, Joplin field.
Two-sided cabinet specimen of lustrous, twinned and striated black sphalerite crystals to 3 cm with dolomite rhombs on silicified limestone, Joplin field.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Deep red 'ruby jack' sphalerite crystals with scattered calcite crystals on matrix, Joplin field of the Tri-State District.
Deep red 'ruby jack' sphalerite crystals with scattered calcite crystals on matrix, Joplin field of the Tri-State District.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Sharp sphalerite crystals with small brassy chalcopyrite on twisted white dolomite rhombs, Joplin field.
Sharp sphalerite crystals with small brassy chalcopyrite on twisted white dolomite rhombs, Joplin field.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
(Zn,Fe)S
Morphology
Crystals lining cavities, sometimes twinned and striated
Typical size
Crystals to about 3 cm
Color / luster
Black, lustrous, or deep red 'ruby jack'
Associated minerals
Dolomitecalcitechalcopyritechert
Twins
Twinned crystals reported
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-375 SRC-386

About Sphalerite →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Mississippi Valley-type Pb-Zn mineralization in Mississippian carbonate and silicified rocks
Type
Hydrothermal
Host rock
Limestone; dolomite; chert; jasperoid
Region
Missouri
Country
United States

Historic Tri-State mining field; exact mine provenance should be retained when known. Position of Joplin city centre; the Tri-State district spans a much wider area.

Sources: SRC-015 SRC-022

Sources

  1. SRC-015 · Website
    Marcasite from Joplin Field, USAEarthWonders · 2026 · EarthWonders
  2. SRC-022 · Website
    Joplin, Missouri - WikipediaWikipedia contributors · 2026 · Wikipedia
  3. SRC-046 · Database
    Sweetwater Mine, Ellington, Reynolds County, Missouri: galena locality entry (locentry 5472)Mindat.org (zh mirror)
  4. SRC-051 · Website
    Galena from Joplin Field, USAEarthWonders
  5. SRC-052 · Website
    Lead and Zinc Mining in KansasKansas Geological Survey
  6. SRC-375 · Article
    Lead and Zinc Mining in Kansas (Public Information Circular 17)Brosius, L.; Sawin, R.S. · 2001 · Kansas Geological Survey
  7. SRC-386 · Website
    Wikimedia Commons file page Sphalerite-Dolomite-54578.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.