Bonne Terre and the Lead

[Plane Trouble]

This may be just a really dumb question to ask but, I was considering going on a little diving excursion to Bonne Terre. However one thing always comes to mind when thinking of the place... Its a Lead mine... and Lead "no be good for you"... Does anyone know how this works there? I'd assume the lead concentrations in the water are probably not at dangerous levels, but how?

 

[Fish in a Barrel]

Lead doesn't come out of the mine in pure form. It's chemically bonded in various mineral deposits. The minerals that contain lead aren't water soluble. The water is non-toxic and drunk by the locals from wells all over that area.

 

[DuboisP]

it will be a problem if you drink all the water

 

[murdrcycle]

Lead doesn't come out of the mine in pure form. It's chemically bonded in various mineral deposits. The minerals that contain lead aren't water soluble. The water is non-toxic and drunk by the locals from wells all over that area.

Have you seen the locals??? J/K - Couldn't resist...

 

[jimmy71]

Have you seen the locals??? J/K - Couldn't resist...

I was thinking the EXACT same thing!!!!!

 

[The Chairman]

The lead has to be extracted from Galena ore: it is not free. They do continual checks of water purity and lead has never been detected in the analysis.

 

[tyesai]

I was wondering the same thing after coming across their website while looking for "different" dives.

 

[RIteen]

So long as you don't chew the window sills while you're down there you will be fine. The amount that leaches yearly is most likely negligible... and even then you would probably have to become a permanent buoy in the mine in order to be affected...

 

[Max Speed]

The nearby off road riding area is plastered with warning signs about the lead danger from the mine debris and offers rinsing stations to clean the lead containing dust from your vehicles and gear. You can obtain a map of the area from the rangers which indicates the areas of greatest danger.

Maybe the mine is cleaner?

---------- Post added April 21st, 2012 at 01:04 PM ----------

On the other hand.....have you ever used soft weights? And looked at the little cloud of lead oxide which streams off the bag when you enter the water?

 

[The Chairman]

Maybe the mine is cleaner?

They didn't smelt the lead inside the mine. Think about it.