Tri-State district

Production began in the 1850s and 1860s in the Joplin - Granby area of Jasper and Newton counties of southwest Missouri.

As jobs left the area, the communities declined in population.

[1][2][3][4] Because of extensive toxic environmental wastes produced from these lead and zinc deposits, known as chat, large areas have been rendered uninhabitable and damage has been caused to air, land and water quality.

In some areas, such as Picher, Oklahoma, the federal government bought out the last inhabitants and the town was disincorporated in 2013.

[5] In 2019 EPA announced a plan for continued funding of $16 million annually for cleanup at Tar Creek.