Table 16.—Mine production of silver, copper, lead, and zinc, 
in terms of recoverable metals 
Material 
 Mines sold or 
Year . pro- treated Troy ducing Crude ore ounces 
(short tons) 
Silver Copper 
—— —________________ 
 Value Short Value 
(thousands) tons. (thousands) 
 1963 4 3,253,245 131,664 1964                           5 4,965,814    
               1965 5 5,279,420 299,522 1966                           7
' 5,387,330                    1967                          10 ' 5,563,824
                   
 $168 1,816 $1,119  .2,059 1,343 
 387 2,331 1,650 
  3,913 2,831 
 3,215 2.458 
Lead 
-- 
Short Value tons (thousands) 
 Zinc Total 
 -- value Short Value (thoutons (thousands) sands) 
 1963  79,844 $17,246 1964  120,148 31,479 1965  133,521 41,659 1966  ' 132,255
' 39,981 1967  ' 152,649 ' 42,742 
 321 $74 $18,607 1,501 408 33,230 4,312 1,259  4.4,955 
' 3,968 ' 1,151 43,963 ' 7,430 ' 2,057 47,257 
' Includes southwest Missouri. 
 
THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF MISSOURI 
477 
 
the 20th century, Missouri has been the Nation's principal source of lead.
New deposits found in southeast Missouri were the most important lead discoveries
made in this country in the present century and one of the world's largest
deposits of this metal. The discoveries resulted in the development of new
mines and expansion of existing ore-processing facilities that will greatly
increase domestic lead production. 
 Total reserves in the new district were estimated at as much as 1 billion
tons of ore containing 20 to 30 million tons of recoverable lead. The reserve
represented between two and three times the total quantity of rcoverable
lead produced in Missouri (10.7 million short tons valued 
at $1.6 billion) and more lead than has been produced in the United States
in this century. 
 Missouri Lead Smelting Co. was nearing completion of its smelter near Bixby,
Iron County, located between the Magmont Mine of Cominco and the Buick mine
of Missouri Lead Operating Co. 
(MOLOC). 
 Ozark Lead Co. was completing its mine and mill at the south end of the
new lead belt in Reynolds County at yearend. Production was expected early
in 1968 at a rate of 60,000 tons of lead per year. Lead concentrates will
be smelted by American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) at its new
smelter at Glover. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 17.—Mine production of lead and zinc in Missouri, in terms of
concentrates and 
recoverable metals 1 
 
Lead concentrates (Galena) 
Zinc concentrates (Sphalerite) 
 
Recoverable m 
etal conten 
~ 
t * 
 
 
 
Lead 
 
Zinc 
 
Year 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Short Value $ 
tons (thou- sands) 
Short Value 
tons (thou- sands) 
Short 
tons 
Value (thousands) 
Short 
tons 
Value 
(thou 
sands) 
1963        
1964       
1965        
1966       
1967       
 109,960 $15,054 167,630 28,125 186,368 36,537 185,410 33,816 220,096 35,824

 666 $50 3,115 205 8,792 891 8,525 795 15,512 1,412 
79,844 
120,148 
133,521 
132,255 
152,649 
$17,246 
31,479 
41,659 
39,981 
42,742 
321 
1,501 
4,312 
3,968 
7,430 
$74 
408 
1,259 
1,151 
2,057 
 1 Based on Missouri ore "dirt" and old tailing treated at mills. 
 ' In calculating metal content of ores from assays, allowance has been made
for smelting losses. In comparing values of concentrate "ore" and metal,
value for concentrate is that received by producer, whereas value of lead
and zinc is calculated from average price for all grades. 
 ' are arbitrary, because part of lead concentrate is smelted by producer.