Galena

specimen number:
2072348

location:
West Fork Mine, Reynolds Co., Missouri, USA

description:
Large lustrous cubic crystals of galena measuring to 6.0 cm on edge in an attractive cluster with little attached matrix. This is in very good condition. From the early 1990s.

The West Fork Mine, located near Bunker in Reynolds County, Missouri, is a major lead-zinc deposit situated within the world-class Viburnum Trend of the Southeast Missouri Lead District. Geologically, the mineralization is a classic Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) deposit, where ore-bearing fluids replaced the Cambrian-aged Bonneterre Dolomite, specifically targeting reef and calcarenite structures. The site is primarily known for its massive and well-crystallized galena, which occurs as bright, metallic cubic or cubo-octahedral crystals that are frequently found in association with chalcopyrite. Historically, mining and quarrying preparations for the West Fork deposit began in the late 1970s following its discovery by ASARCO, with full-scale industrial production officially commencing in 1985. The operation was significant for its modern underground design and high-efficiency extraction methods, contributing substantially to the domestic lead supply for decades. As of 2026, the West Fork Mine remains a key historical and geological landmark of the New Lead Belt, having been a prolific producer of both industrial ore and sharp, aesthetic galena specimens during its primary years of operation.

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