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Missouri Caves

TREASURE HUNTING IN MISSOURI
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Missouri

What this area is known for:
  1. Geodes
  2. Lace Agate
  3. Mozarkite
  4. Galena & Zinc Minerals (Tri-State & Viburnum Trend)
Biggest finds in this area:
  1. Valuable specimens of Tri-State and Southeast Missouri mineral specimens.
  2. Missouri lace agate
  3. Mozarkite
Local appraisers: Name, contact info/website
  1. John Gerzen, Springfield MO 417-887-2330
Local geocaching/treasure hunting clubs:
  1. http://www.amfed.org/club.htm
  2. Ozark Mountain Gem & Mineral Society 417-725-3001
  3. http://www.treasurechestspringfield.com
Best time of year to go: Almost any time except during the winter months. The Ozarks are exceptionally beautiful in the fall. Other helpful resources:
Missouri is known for its beautiful springs and caves

  1. http://www.missouricaves.com/mo-map.htm
  2. http://www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/
  3. http://www.mospeleo.org/ozark_caving/springs/jspring.html
  4. http://www.riverbluffcave.com
THE BEST PLACES TO HUNT Regions can have multiple good spots to go add details to build a complete guide.
Location #1: Lincoln, Missouri - Mozarkite




General Description: Mozarkite is a pastel colored chert with swirls, blossoms, and bands. The color varies from pink,yellow, blue, and sometimes green. In 1967 the Missouri Legislature proclaimed Mazarkite the state gemstone.
How to get there: The chert is found in streams, ditches, fields, and road cuts around a wide area around Lincoln, Missouri. The area extends along the Cotter Dolomite Formation of Ordovician age. The word is a combination of Mo for Missouri, Ozark for the region and ite for rock. Lincoln is south of Sedalie on HWY 65. I have also found Mozarkite at Harry Truman lake west of Lincoln. http://www.dnr.mo.gov./pubs/pub653.pdf
http://www.mazarkite.com
Rate this site: (A to F) A Plenty of good material GPS coordinates:
Handy to bring along: 1. Rock Hammer 2. Safety Glasses 3. Pick or Maul Helpful notes to newcomers: Permission must be granted from the land owner. I have found all I wanted in ditches, road cuts and along the lake.
Location #2: Everett J. Ritchie Mineral Museum

General description: The best museum to study an extensive collection of Tri-State minerals from the mines of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Galena, calcite,sphalerite, dolomite and chalcoprite crystals are truly impressive.
How to get there: The museum is at Schifferdecker Park in Joplin Missouri. The complex is at the corner of 7th street and Schifferdecker Drive. If you desire to collect some samples, drive north on Schifferdecker Park to W Perkins and turn right. There are tailing dumps from the mining operations on your left. Calcite , dolomite , galena, and sphalerite specimens can be found.
Grade this location: (A to F): A for the museum C+ for the mine tailing piles. GPS coordinates: http://www.joplinmuseum.org/info.htm
Handy to bring along:
1.camera
2.Hand tools
3.Rock Hammer
4. Safety Glasses - the host rock is chert (flint) and can be extremely sharp especially with fresh breaks. Flint has a conical fractures and used by flint nappers to create Native American tools. Some Mozarkite that is free of fractures makes incredible arrowheads, spear points and other tools.
5. Gloves
Helpful notes to newcomers: The museum is one of the finest collections of the Tri-State Mining district. It is known for the size and beauty of the crystal habitat of the minerals. There is a scale model of the Lead and Zinc mines and the extraction process. Be careful when handling sharp edged chert. It is best not to hit the chert with a hammer. A friend of mine went to the hospital to have a flint shard removed from his hand from holding a nodule in his hand and hitting the flint with a hammer. Bad Idea
Location #3: Elephant Rocks State Park

General description: Giant Boulders of pink granite resemble huge elephants marching in a circus area. A nature hike circles through 1.6 billion year old pre-Cambrian formations
How to get there:

http://www.mostateparks.com/elephantrock/geninfo.htm
Grade this location: (A to F): A GPS coordinates:

Handy to bring along:
1.Camera
2.Hiking shoes
3.
Helpful notes to newcomers: Collecting is illegal in the park. However, there is an operating quarry at the backside of the park. Ask at the office to gather some pieces from the scrape piles. The pink granite is cut for monuments and building stone, The scape has been sawed and is quite attractive.
Location #4: Potosi, Old Mine, Cadet, Missouri


General description: Missouri lace agate, drusy quartz, and barite blades Missouri Lace agate resembles Mexican Lace agate with tight banding, swirls, and grays, blues, and some red colors.
How to get there: Potosi is in south east Missiouri. The area around Potosi contains a number a abandoned mine pits. Go east from Potosi on HWY 8 and turn on CR O. Tailing piles are on both the right on left sides of the road. Do not cross no trespassing signs.
Grade this location: (A to F): A GPS coordinates:

Handy to bring along:
1.Hammer
2.Rock bag or 5 gallon bucket
3.Hang tools
Helpful notes to newcomers: The drusy can be quite large specimens (2 square feet) with bitroydal formations. Very little digging is necessary. The mine waste piles are extensive.
Location #5: Keokuk Geodes

General description: The Warsaw formation of Iowa, Illinois, and northeast Missouri has yielding immense amounts of geodes with as many as 30 different minerals. The most common minerals are quartz and calcite.
How to get there: . The streams and rivers around St Franceville and Fox Missouri have exposed geodes. The well know Betty Sheffler's Rock Shop and Mine is being closed due to highway construction.

http://www.ruralmissouri.org/02pages/Feb02geodes.html
Grade this location: (A to F): A See samples of the Geodes:

http://www.geodegallery.com/keokuk.html

Handy to bring along:
1.Shovel
2.Hand tools.
Helpful notes to newcomers: Do not break the Geodes with a hammer. Many a valuable stone has been destroyed by an over zealous rockhound.

Location #6:

General description:
How to get there:
Grade this location: (A to F) GPS coordinates:
Handy to bring along:
1.
2.
3.
Helpful notes to newcomers:
VIDEO FROM THIS AREA
Upload a YouTube or Google video of geocaching or treasure hunting excursions from this area.


About this slide show: The show is a collection of minerals and scenery of Missouri

Slide show submitted by: Bill Reynolds

National Directory page - Travel Channel Cash and Treasures

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National Directory page - Travel Channel Cash and Treasures

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National Directory page - Travel Channel Cash and Treasures

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PHOTOS FROM THIS AREA
Upload pictures of your geocaching or treasure hunting excursions from this area.


Tri State Mining District Missouri


About this photo: Tri -State Mining District
Hob nail calcite, Mango calcite crystals

Photo submitted by: Bill Reynolds



Ruby Jack Sphalerite


About this photo: Tri - State Mining District
Ruby Jack Sphalerite

Photo submitted by: Bill Reynolds
Lace Agate Sphere


About this photo: Lace agate sphere found on the banks of the Missouri River.

Photo submitted by:sdgoldpanner

National Directory page - Travel Channel Cash and Treasures


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Latest page update: made by gamaliel114 , Sep 12 2009, 9:09 PM EDT (about this update About This Update gamaliel114 Edited by gamaliel114


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Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
aubreyreynolds9@gmai Slde Show of Some of my Missouri specimens 3 Jul 30 2008, 9:30 PM EDT by aubreyreynolds9@gmai
Thread started: Jul 30 2008, 11:50 AM EDT  Watch
I have created a show of Missouri Minerals, Agates, and Jaspers. These are in my collection except for a couple of the Union Road Agate.
Bill
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Yaoimutt hunting locations near st. louis? 7 May 14 2008, 9:25 PM EDT by ModerndayEdison
Thread started: Dec 12 2007, 2:43 AM EST  Watch
i live in st. louis MO and was wandering if anyone knows of any treasure hunting locations around st. louis? (like, with in a couple hour drive of it.)
2  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    
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geofree2 Missouri 1 Jan 28 2008, 11:42 PM EST by ModerndayEdison
Thread started: Jan 24 2008, 6:18 PM EST  Watch
I'm planning to go to Missouri to visit relatives. Does anyone know of any treasure hunting out there?
3  out of 4 found this valuable. Do you?    
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