Picher Field

Picher Field lies in the heart of the Tri-State Mining District, crossing Oklahoma and Kansas, specifically in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, and Cherokee County, Kansas. It's near the town of Picher, Oklahoma, about 8 miles north of Miami, Oklahoma, and adjacent to the Kansas state line. The area, once forested, now shows the scars of extensive mining, with rolling hills altered by human activity.

The field is renowned for galena (lead sulfide) and sphalerite (zinc sulfide), the primary ores extracted. It also hosts a variety of other minerals, including anglesite, baryte, calcite, chalcopyrite, and notably, less common ones like enargite and gedrite, which might intrigue collectors seeking unique specimens.

The geology consists mainly of sedimentary rocks, with the Boone formation's limestones hosting the lead and zinc deposits. These minerals formed through replacement processes within the limestone, creating rich mineralized zones that were extensively mined.

Mining began in the early 1900s, peaking during World War I when Picher Field supplied significant lead and zinc for the war effort. Methods evolved from room and pillar to pillar robbing, leading to instability. Operations ceased in the 1970s, leaving behind environmental contamination, resulting in its designation as a Superfund site.

Picher was a mining boomtown, growing rapidly in the early 20th century and declining after the mines closed. It had a vibrant community, highlighted by the high school football team, the Gorillas, winning a state championship in 1984. Now a ghost town, it's featured in documentaries like "The Creek Runs Red" (Wikipedia) and "Tar Creek," reflecting its cultural and historical significance.

The climate is temperate, with hot summers and cold winters, typical of the central US. However, mining has severely impacted the ecology, with contaminated water and soil from heavy metals. Tar Creek, running red from pollution, exemplifies the environmental toll, making it a site of ongoing cleanup efforts.