Barite 'tiff' and lead shaped Washington County

Washington County has a deep mining story. The area around Potosi and Mine au Breton was worked for lead in Missouri’s colonial and territorial era. Later, the county became known for barite, a heavy white mineral locally called “tiff.”

DNR says barite gets its name from a Greek word meaning heavy, and that “tiff” is one of its common names. The Washington County district was Missouri’s major barite-producing area, with deposits in Washington County and southwestern Jefferson County. DNR also notes the link between the minerals: early lead mining began in the same area, and barite was once cast aside as waste.

For someone trying to understand the county, this is a key thread. Treat specific “firsts” and dates as claims to confirm. Use the State Historical Society of Missouri and the Missouri Geological Survey for the lead-and-tiff story.

That two-layer history, early lead and later barite, shaped where towns grew and how many families made a living. It also explains why mining words and old diggings still show up in local stories. A family story about “tiff” is not just a nickname; it points to a real mineral economy that lasted into modern Missouri mining history.