How do I find lead fragments in a paddock

Templeton said:

What can I say...everyone is soooo helpful. Yes have had vets do bloods on sick animals and autopsy's on dead ones...definitely lead...and yes sadly can not be used for human consumption now ..ie these animals can not entre the food chain. The property has been burnt and then cultivated - did find chopped up and burnt pieces of an old battery that had lead exposed. According to the DPI(Dept of Primary Industries) one battery can kill that no especially if the battery has been burnt as Heatho mentioned. We lease the entire 1000 acre property and only one paddock affected - hence looking for a larger type of metal detector that can detect lead fragments that may have been plowed into the ground.

Click to expand...

Well Detectors will find bits from a couple of inches down to a few feet, depending on the size of the coil being used, If you can fence off the Area where the battery was found that will help, Ploughing will normally move items to within a 100 foot area over a few years of ploughing so this lead won't be hard to find,

Why don't you see if you have a detecting club near by and talk to them also keep posting here because some members might live near you a they might be able to help, And Keep ya wallet in ya pocket because most detectorist will only be glad to have a days detecting on private land, Maybe share a Beer or two afterwards,

Once you locate the offending area you might have to remove the top couple of feet of soil and hopefully that should be the end of your troubles.

Keep in touch,

John.

Hi Templeton
If you are on Facebook you should talk to Neville Wright who runs the local gemstone and fossicking club.

https://www.facebook.com/SBGemAndFossickingClub/?ref=hovercard

They have over 20 ppl with detectors who may help you out.

Can the DPI quarantine the paddock so no more livestock or anyone else or suffer like you have. Do you have any recourse from the person leasing the land. Seems odd they leased it if they had knowledge of contamination, how long has the person owned the land :/

My understanding is the acid from the battery attracts the cattle , so maybe looking into a supplement lick to stop the cattle craving what they are lacking could reduce the risk level if destocking isnt possible .

If its only a few batteries torn to bits it could be possible to detect it clean but if theres nails , wire or other metal present the amount of targets in 100 acres could be millions.

If it is only scattered batteries getting a detecting group to organise a treasure hunt with prizes for the most bits of lead could be possible and if you used the cost of two cows to buy some gold nuggets you could plant a few metal tokens in the feild to win nuggets.

Really sorry to hear about the cattle.
Had no idea a battery could be so bad!
Maybe use some salt licks ?