Calcite

Unknown Owner

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Scalenohedral crystals of translucent calcite to 6.8 cm in size across matrix. Minimal cleaving present, this in good condition. Nice old time piece. Mining in Joplin, Missouri began in the 1870s after the discovery of rich lead and zinc deposits in what became known as the Tri State Mining District of Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The district grew rapidly and by the late 19th and early 20th centuries Joplin was one of the leading producers of zinc and lead in the world, supporting smelters, railroads, and a booming local economy. Ore was mined from shallow shafts and later deeper underground workings that followed Mississippi Valley type deposits in limestone. Production declined after World War II, and large scale mining largely ended by the 1970s, leaving a lasting impact on the landscape and local history.