The disseminated lead ore bodies of St. Francois County in southeast Missouri are known for their enormous size and even grade over large areas. Several of these ore bodies are over a mile long by a quarter mile wide. They have been worked on a commensurate scale. The smallest mill in the district, at Bonne Terre, now treats 2,500 tons daily capacity. Each of these mills is supplied by a single ore hoisting shaft. The disseminated ore district of St. Francois County is bounded by the Big River-Bonne Terre fault on the north and west, by the Simms Mountain fault to the west and south, and by the Farmington anticline to the east. Each side of this triangle is about twelve miles long. This district is commonly spoken of as the Lead Belt . About twenty five miles to the south, at Mine La Motte is a district several miles square of somewhat similar characteristics. This has not been a producer since 1930, but has produced a very large amount of ore in the past --Introduction, page 1
