Joplin, Missouri, is the center of our zinc and lead production. In 1915 the United States produced over 460,000 tons of crude zinc, valued at $45,000,000. In the same year our mines produced 500,000 tons of lead, valued at $40,000,000. Missouri leads all other states in the production of both minerals. Zinc is not mined as a free substance. That is, it is found combined with other elements such as sulphides, carbonates, oxides, etc. By carefully worked out processes of heating, zinc is reduced from these compounds. The metal is much usedas an alloy with copper to produce brass. It is also used for roofing, and for coating or galvanizing iron to prevent rusting. The United States is the largest zinc producer in the world. Lead, like zinc, is obtained from a compound. The chief ore from which lead comes is the sulphide which is mined is grayish, shiny cubes. There are a number of processes of securing the lead from the ore; but heat is the chief factor in each. Afterwards the crude lead is refined by still more heating. Lead is a very valuable mineral. It is used largely in making bullets and shot. Air and water have little effect on it so it is used for piping, roofing, and lining of tanks. The view shows a shaft house that sets over the entrance to a zinc and lead mine. In this house is the machinery that runs the shaft elevator to bring men and minerals from the mine. The smelter you also can see on the right. Here the mined ores are refined into the crude metals. The pile in the background is called the tailing pile. It is made up of the tailings or left-over minerals from which the metals have been taken. Locate Joplin. What mountains are in southern Missouri? Keystone ID: 16704 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.