cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/350172

Chemical analysis has identified the Cadia Hill goldmine as a potential source of some of the lead found in samples collected from nearby residential rainwater tanks in central west New South Wales, the mine’s management has said.

Under the new licence conditions, Cadia Valley Operations was required to engage a qualified independent consultant to provide an interpretation report of the lead isotope sampling results from a community water tank testing project that the mine had conducted in March and April.

Cadia Valley Operations general manager, Mick Dewar, told Guardian Australia that preliminary test results showed a “Slight overlap” with the characterisation of the mine’s lead isotope and the lead found in samples collected from local residents’ rainwater tanks.

Dewar said the overlapping lead isotopes were found in the samples with “The lowest lead concentrations” of all those where lead was present.

“The highest concentrations in the tanks actually set far off the Cadia characterisation,” he said, suggesting the lead in those tanks came from another source.