More than 50 percent of the lead and zinc metal used during both World Wars for bullet production was mined in Picher.  

From 1917 to 1947 , Picher Oklahoma was the most productive lead-zinc mining field in the lead mining district, producing more than $20 billion worth of ore.  

-leaving behind 70 million tons of mine tailings and 14,000 abandon mine shafts

Visitors to northeast Oklahoma today see beautiful and unexpected roadside geology - large white mounds of tailing left over from the mining process, known as "Chat".  These white chat mounds became the adored landscape of the town.  Generations of local youths spent their Saturday spare time on their knees playing in it, while teenagers (often coming from other towns, including Kansas City) rode all-terrain vehicles on these Midwestern sand dunes.  They were a vacation destination of sorts.