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http://www.flickr....72157624555715636/
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Very cool been meaning to head up there one of these days. Did you have any trouble with the care taker I remember a few years back people were running into him
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I remember that he was cool to people if they were polite and kept a low profile.
I love those superfund site signs...
"I'm just not set up to mold hard rubber..." |
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There's a few more buildings remaining than I thought there were. The fire a number of years back nuked most of the more interesting stuff.
Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy. -George Carlin (1937 - 2008) |
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I tried visiting New Idria a year ago, but the route I tried was blocked by a gated private road. Thanks for sharing your pics. I guess I need to give it another try if it actually is accessible now.
Jim Sullivan @placesthatwere
http://www.placesthatwere.com |
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Fuck yeah Jander! Great pics.
Last time we went with Max and Emily in 2012 maybe? The pot farmers got in their truck and chased us for a few miles.
Very Dukes of Hazzard!
The question is not when are we gonna stop, It's who's gonna stop us?
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Don't the signs mean there's mercury and other heavy metals to protect yourself from there?
https://www.flickr...9618494@N05/albums |
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^ yes, as best you can
http://www.flickr....rescueme1060/sets/
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Posted by RescueMe1060
^ yes, as best you can
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Would you need a protective suit or just a P100 respirator with vapor cartridges or both?
https://www.flickr...9618494@N05/albums |
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Visited in Fall of 2016. No caretakers, no guards, a few benitoite miners more concerned about their rocks. Fire has taken out most of the area not immediately around the rotary furnace.
Regarding mercury, I wouldn't really worry about it too much. If you are, don't go there.
For my periodic science lectures on Health and UrbEx, here it goes:
There are three types of the heavy metal poisoning. The deadliest is inhaling mercury vapor, which tends to lead to almost immediate, chronic and possibly fatal nerve, lung and brain damage. However mercury vapor is volatile (hence why it is inhaled) and is more than likely to evaporate within a few years of production. Suffice to say don't go kicking open any glass or metal canisters and this shouldn't be an issue.
Far more likely is ingesting mercury, likely organically through say fish living in the area. Due to the fact that mercury accumulates in the body, eating contaminated fish will expose you to a lot of mercury, leading to GI damage, nerve damage and the works. The most famous heavy mercury poisoning case had to do with eating contaminated fish: https://en.wikiped...i/Minamata_disease
Do not eat the fish.
Finally, there are inorganic mercury compounds, probably from the environment. Inorganic mercury will be everywhere at a site like New Idria: the dirt, metal objects, etc. You will likely be contaminated-probably through inhaling the inorganic mercury, which can eventually lead to the same damages as above. However the damage will likely be minor/limited if you visit only a short period of time-similar to coal, asbestos and radiation, it's mainly chronic, repeated exposures that generally lead to problems here. Definitely change clothes after exploring/before eating and don't do it too often, due to the fact that as I mentioned above, it tends to stay and accumulate in the body.
However New Almaden in San Jose is another mercury-contaminated site, and it is very popular with joggers and families, if that gives you some reassurance.
Wear a mask if you decide to visit the buildings of New Idria, though that is more important for small dust particulates, black mold, hantavirus, asbestos etc. than mercury.
http://www.calpois.../callusvol9no1.htm
https://yosemite.e...0001900463#threats
[last edit 5/11/2017 3:59 PM by Clostridium - edited 1 times]
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Posted by UECAL
Would you need a protective suit or just a P100 respirator with vapor cartridges or both?
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There are so many articles written about respirators. Mercury is misunderstood enough its worth a mention. You don't have to worry about the vapor when the place is aired well. the problem is when you track back dirt with tiny bits of mercury on your clothing and they get into the carpet in your car and home.
It is very similar to furniture that had a pet accident. Smell goes away when you have your windows open only to have it come back after you close them. It evaporates slowly enough that you continue to have smell problem for months and sometimes throwing out that furniture is the only cure. Chronically smelling cat piss isn't a health hazard but inhaling the mercury the same way is. It's difficult to detect it since it doesn't smell.
Do you see why they make a big deal when some kid and his friends play with mercury and they track it back everywhere?
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If you really wanna be safe, wear a tyvek suit there and when you get back to your csr, take it off and put it in an airtight bag to throw it away. Some people might find this overkill, but I don't wanna die prematurely or something.
Before jumping to conclusions, I'm not a Nazi. |
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Posted by Deuterium
Chronically smelling cat piss isn't a health hazard but inhaling the mercury the same way is. It's difficult to detect it since it doesn't smell.
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Actually smelling cat urine is also a health hazard. Not as bad as mercury poisoning, but it's not great either 
http://jn.nutritio.../134/8/2162S.short
https://www.ncbi.n...gov/pubmed/6158896
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Posted by Deuterium
There are so many articles written about respirators. Mercury is misunderstood enough its worth a mention. You don't have to worry about the vapor when the place is aired well. the problem is when you track back dirt with tiny bits of mercury on your clothing and they get into the carpet in your car and home.
It is very similar to furniture that had a pet accident. Smell goes away when you have your windows open only to have it come back after you close them. It evaporates slowly enough that you continue to have smell problem for months and sometimes throwing out that furniture is the only cure. Chronically smelling cat piss isn't a health hazard but inhaling the mercury the same way is. It's difficult to detect it since it doesn't smell.
Do you see why they make a big deal when some kid and his friends play with mercury and they track it back everywhere?
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Yes, that makes sense. Mostly worried about tracking it into my car and protecting from breathing it in.
What if I vacuum and wash the mats and carpet inside the car?
https://www.flickr...9618494@N05/albums |
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Posted by UECAL
Yes, that makes sense. Mostly worried about tracking it into my car and protecting from breathing it in.
What if I vacuum and wash the mats and carpet inside the car?
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I buy throwaway shoes for these sorts of places. I bag them and toss them to avoid tracking anything back. Target tennis shoes usually have been low cost and decent enough to last the day
Stealth: adj. designed in accordance with technology that makes detection difficult. Wraith: n. A wisp or faint trace of something |
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November 2017 Update on New Idria:
It’s still there.
I’m on a mobile but I’ll try to post a few New Idria photos when I can get to my laptop for a bit.
I wandered till the stars went dim. |
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Posted by stealthwraith
I buy throwaway shoes for these sorts of places. I bag them and toss them to avoid tracking anything back. Target tennis shoes usually have been low cost and decent enough to last the day
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Leather high top boots, simply clean them with soap and water if needed.
Injuries are the #1 hazard you face and ankle injuries can ruin your mobility perhaps for life.
Avoid stirring up dust or going on windy days.
No fires.
One visit isn't going to impact your health unless you do something stupid like fall.
The most toxic mercury compounds are ones you won't find here and as previously stated, vaporized elemental mercury.
As long as the mercury is in its liquid state it's relatively harmless. You can even drink a few drops without harm. Anyone who ever broke a mercury thermometer in their mouth knows this
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Posted by Dee Ashley
November 2017 Update on New Idria:
It’s still there.
I’m on a mobile but I’ll try to post a few New Idria photos when I can get to my laptop for a bit.
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I'll second this. We should have combined our powers for this one! I was there over the long weekend as well
Stealth: adj. designed in accordance with technology that makes detection difficult. Wraith: n. A wisp or faint trace of something |
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Posted by stealthwraith
I'll second this. We should have combined our powers for this one! I was there over the long weekend as well
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Well, damn! I just responded to your post on another thread, it sounds like we almost crossed paths more than once! Hopefully you’ll have some photos to share too... maybe a joint post will be in order... lol.
I wandered till the stars went dim. |
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Posted by Dee Ashley
Well, damn! I just responded to your post on another thread, it sounds like we almost crossed paths more than once! Hopefully you’ll have some photos to share too... maybe a joint post will be in order... lol.
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Indeed! Now that it's dark at night have no more excuses for not posting pics. Tonight I will get some pics up from this one
Stealth: adj. designed in accordance with technology that makes detection difficult. Wraith: n. A wisp or faint trace of something |
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