Description of Substances Reported

ANTIMONY - Antimony is a metallic element that is commonly silvery white, crystalline and brittle yet rather soft. It is used in the manufacturing of glass, in fire retardants and pigments. Antimony is commercially produced in Idaho.

ARSENIC - Arsenic is a gray-colored metal, but pure arsenic is rare in the environment. Arsenic is usually found combined with one or more other elements. There is no commercial production of arsenic in Idaho.

CADMIUM - Cadmium is a tin-white, malleable metal capable of taking a high polish often occurring in small amounts in zinc ores. It is used chiefly in the protective electroplating of iron and steel. There is no commercial production of cadmium in Idaho.

CHROMIUM - Chromium is an odorless, hard, steel-gray, lustrous metal. Chromium is used as an alloying and plating element on metal or plastic substrates for corrosion resistance, in chromium-containing and stainless steels and in protective coatings for automotive and equipment accessories. There is no commercial production of chromium in Idaho.

COPPER - Copper is a reddish, lustrous and malleable metal. It is used as a for electrical and electronic products in building construction, industrial, machinery and equipment, and heating, chemical, and pharmaceutical machinery. It is also used in alloys, pigments, protective coatings, piping, coins, food and drugs. Copper is commercially produced in Idaho.

LEAD - Lead is a naturally occurring, bluish-gray metal that has no taste or smell. It is used in batteries, x-ray shields, roofing, solder, steel production and ceramic glazes. Lead is commercially produced in Idaho.

MBT - MBT is a reagent used as a pyrite collector in pyrite-reduction processes. Pyrite can lead to acid rock drainage (ARD). Its separation and collection allows it to be stored in a way that eliminates the potential for ARD and protects water quality. The full chemical name is 2-mercaptobenzolthiazole.

MANGANESE - Manganese is an abundant element found in many types of rock. Pure manganese is a silver-colored metal, similar to iron in its physical and chemical properties. Manganese does not occur in the environment as a pure metal, but is a component of more than 100 minerals. It is used in the production of steel, batteries, matches, fireworks and fertilizers. There is no commercial production of manganese in Idaho.

NICKEL - Nickel is a naturally occurring silvery metal found in the earth's crust in the form of various nickel minerals. Nickel is used to make steels and alloys, magnetic materials, batteries and ceramics. There is no commercial production of nickel in Idaho.

NITRATE - Nitrates are residues of the blasting process where fertilizer-like compounds are mixed with fuel oil to produce explosives.

SILVER - Silver is a white, lustrous, corrosion resistant, metallic element. It is valued for its strength, ductility and malleability as well as its thermal and electrical conductivity, reflectivity and sensitivity to light. Silver is commercially produced in Idaho.

ZINC - Zinc is a soft white metal with a bluish tinge. Zinc is most commonly used as a protective coating of other metals. Zinc is commercially produced in Idaho.