[LadyRobyn]

Originally Posted by cat

Why do they call them "chat piles?"
Cat

Hi cat!

I have read that the term "Chat" may have come from the word "Chert"

[mkfarnam]

Chat is a term for fragments of siliceous rock, limestone, and dolomite waste rejected in the lead-zinc milling operations that accompanied lead-zinc mining in the first half of the twentieth century. Historic lead and zinc mining in the Midwest was centered in two major areas: the Tri-State area covering more than 2,500 square miles in southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas, and northeastern Oklahoma and the Old Lead Belt covering about 110 square miles in southeastern Missouri. The first recorded mining occurred in the Old Lead Belt in about 1742. The production increased significantly in both the Tri-state area and the Old Lead Belt during the mid-1800s and lasted up to 1970.

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chat
Chat, a local term for mining waste, is a lead/zinc mining waste from the tri-state mining district. Chat, also known as granular mine tailings, is composed of chert-like material, containing lead, zinc and cadmium contaminants. The tri-state region covers approximately 2,500 square miles and includes parts of Ottawa County, Oklahoma; Cherokee County, Kansas; and Jasper and Newton Counties, Missouri.

Chat is usually found in large mounds, called chat piles, that appear grayish white in color and impact surrounding environments severely. Chat can be used to sprinkle on snow-covered roads to improve traction. The surrounding area of a chat pile usually appears desolate and destroyed, with decaying trees. It is unsafe to inhale the vapors around large amounts of chat.

[Ravenwolf]

Hi,is there anyone that knows of a site that has the pictures on this site that can be printed off to send to my sister who lives in Reno and is in stage 4 of cancer and will never be able to see are home town again.Any help with pics before the storm and after the storm,Iwould love to send to her. Thanks BillSaylor

[verynicebecky]

Hi Bill. If you Google "Picher, OK" there are lots of sites that offer pictures. I belong to a group that sends me emails and it has a lot of pictures from before the tornado but for the life of my I can't think of the name. Next time I get an email from them I will pass it onto you. My dad (Eugene Thompson) grew up in Picher and graduated from there in 1948. BTW, I am 70 miles outside of Reno in Yerington, NV.

[mkfarnam]

More Picher, OK pictures from midwest photos on webshots

[LadyRobyn]

Originally Posted by Ravenwolf

Hi,is there anyone that knows of a site that has the pictures on this site that can be printed off to send to my sister who lives in Reno and is in stage 4 of cancer and will never be able to see are home town again.Any help with pics before the storm and after the storm,Iwould love to send to her. Thanks BillSaylor

Hi Bill, Are you talking about the pictures taken before or after the tornado? The pics from after the tornado were posted by my son...you are more than welcome to click on each one and save the full-size version to your computer if you know how... if not get in touch with me and I will help you any way I can.

The pics taken before the tornado were by a member here named PeggyDavis... I'm sure she'll be along shortly...

[mkfarnam]

Just right click the picture (s) you want and then click "Save picture as" and name it.

[Ravenwolf]

Hi,Could you tell me if the tornado hit downtown Picher by the old Brass Rail and Paul Thomas Funeral Home and that area.At this time I just don't have the heart to come down and see it yet,have to many happy memories of all the family get togethers there,and always coming home for the pow-wows with my family.
Thanks,
Bill

[LadyRobyn]

Originally Posted by Ravenwolf

Hi,Could you tell me if the tornado hit downtown Picher by the old Brass Rail and Paul Thomas Funeral Home and that area.At this time I just don't have the heart to come down and see it yet,have to many happy memories of all the family get togethers there,and always coming home for the pow-wows with my family.
Thanks,
Bill

Bill, we are down south in Duncan and haven't been up that way, but from what I have heard the places on Connell (and Downtown) were mostly untouched. I'm going to send you a DM to some videos I found made by some folks who were there...

[peggydavis]

I don't copyright my pictures so anyone is welcome to them.