Butte... One thing leads to another....

The Tick-Magnets were burning rubber across I-90 when Swiz had a Google-moment.  We had passed a landmark a few miles back and she was quietly Googling it from the back seat!  She read the stories out loud and we decided it was worthy of a u-turn (yep, it happens! Haha!)

The U-turn netted us the picture we wanted... and then lead us to the visitor center for a souvenir map.  Having already gotten off the highway, we decided to fill up the geo-mobile ' s belly.  While Clyde pumped gas, Swiz and I searched for nearby caches (we didn't have Montana smileys yet!)  We were drawn to the first cache published in Butte... a virtual at the old copper mine.

What an amazing place... and what perfect timing!  While standing on the overlook platform, a tour guide walked up with his group.  The guide was a local geologist and his stories about the history of the mine and the future of the area were incredible!

I took a few pictures of the "lake" that has collected in the Berkeley Pit and was in awe of the reflection and the beauty.... right about the same time he started to explain that the water had an acidity of about 2.5... The equivalent of battery acid!!!   Yikes!

The acidic water is still rising... at the rate of 6 inches per month.  The pit water is already 1000 feet deep and the 10,000 miles of underground mines and workways are already full!  It is expected to crest in 2023.  The top water is already be treated by the water purification station across from the observation deck.  In 2020, they will begin pumping and purifying water in the pit.  All of this effort being motivated by the fear that the acidic water could overflow into local waterways and drinking supplies.

Imagine my surprise when I noticed some type if waterfowl swimming in the water!!  It shocked the tour guide as much as it shocked me!  It was the first time he had ever witnessed birds on the water.  Following the snow geese disaster in 1995 (342 birds died!), efforts have been made to discourage birds from visiting the water.  Sound bytes... gunshots, cannon firings, sirens, etc randomly play into the pit to discourage the birds from entering or landing!!! I hope today's birds are okay!!

Everything about the pit is not bleak!  Scientists have recently discovered a microorganism that only grows in this pit... and it is currently being researched at the local college for its potential impact on fighting cancer.  Wouldn't that be wonderful!?


♡Mac