Potosi Lead Mine District
Approximate — check official site before visiting
Historic lead mining district in Washington County. Old mine dumps produce galena cubes, calcite, pyrite, and sphalerite. Part of the famous Missouri Lead Belt.
🪨 What You Can Find Here
Pyrite
Also found at:
📍 Nearby Locations in Missouri
Missouri Geode Beds
Macon, Missouri · Public Land
Stream beds and road cuts producing geodes in northeastern Missouri. Part of the same geologic formation as Iowa's Keokuk geodes.
Mozarkite Beds
Lincoln, Missouri · Public Land
Mozarkite (Missouri's state rock) is a beautiful chert/jasper found in central and southwest Missouri. A prized knapping and lapidary material.
Missouri Trilobite Beds
Sedalia, Missouri · Public Land
Road cuts and exposures in central Missouri producing Devonian trilobite fossils including the state fossil (crinoid).
⛏️ Recommended Gear
Make the most of your visit to Potosi Lead Mine District with the right equipment.
Rock Hammer
The most essential rockhounding tool. Choose a hammer with both a flat striking face and a pointed pick end.
Typical: $25-45
Safety Glasses
Mandatory protective gear. Rock chips fly unpredictably when hammering.
Typical: $10-20
Chisel Set
Cold chisels in 3-4 sizes for precise extraction from matrix rock.
Typical: $15-30
Geologist's Pick
A heavier crack hammer for splitting hard rock. Essential for hard rock mining areas.
Typical: $35-60
Sifting Screen
Stackable mesh screens for sifting gravel and dirt. Essential for gem and fossil hunting.
Typical: $20-40
UV Flashlight
Long-wave UV light for finding fluorescent minerals and Yooperlites.
Typical: $15-35