c**tplaces said:
Should I wear breathing filter?
I wouldn't bother
I do, it keeps my hands dry and warm
Stop myself from licking the walls etc?
If you really want a mouth full of grit you can, but I don't advise it.
The lead occurs as lead sulphide, better known as galena. It's a mineral with cubic crystals that can often be seen sparkling. You aren't going to find any lead dust. When it comes to lunch I'll take my gloves off, then sit & eat my food - I've not gone mad yet and you could hardly call my hands "clean". As for licking the walls, well I suspect lead is the least of your worries, you'll find no end of other mineral deposits which could no doubt give an upset tum, just admire the look of the pretty orange & brown colours, not their taste.
As mud monkey pointed out, there's a lot more to watch out for in lead mines than the lead. The stone mines of Bath are pretty horizontal, lead mines are vertical! The veins usually form just off the vertical (70-80 degrees or so). The mine workings follow this through the ground. The main stope at Snailbeach in Shropshire for example is a vertical gash around 1,500ft deep. Depending on each individual mine you may find false floors have been built across the stope - it's not good news if these give way whilst you're standing on them
.
The recent roof fall at Cwmystwyth shows what can happen when the "long standing tradition" changes it's mind (photo on my
website)
The other thing to watch is oxygen, or the lack of. Relying on 'deep breathing' is no use - that relies on high CO2 levels. In mines you can find that rotting timber and oxidising iron will just remove the oxygen - first signs of this is usually a little too late. If the atmosphere feels still, stale etc. then try lighting a cigarette lighter, if it won't light then it's time to gently head out. If it will light then you've got >17% O2. I wouldn't worry about the oxygen issue to much, most (although not all) mines with a known problem will have signs, paper notes or obvious barriers across the level in the relevant area. If you're pushing the frontiers then it's a different matter.
As for washing oversuits: Mmmm, I did do that once, don't ask me when! It usually gets washed when I'm wading through deep water
. A notable exception would be if you visit Cae Coch sulphur mine. After wading through blood red waist deep highly acidic water it's advisable to rinse your kit through before the stitches rot away!
Which part of the country/mines are you heading to?