Based on geologic, geochemical, geophysical, and mine and claim surveys, Hercules Glades Wilderness, Missouri has little promise for the occurrence of metallic-mineral or energy resources in formations exposed at and near the surface. Upper Cambrian formations, known to contain major deposits of lead, zinc, silver, copper, nickel, and cobalt in the Viburnum Trend and Southeast Missouri mining districts, occur in the subsurface within the wilderness. Deep drilling to test the buried Cambrian formations for lithologic character and trace metals would be needed in order to permit apprasial of the potential of these formations for base-metal deposits.