11 Best Places to Find Lead Metal Detecting

Ever wondered where to unearth lead treasures with your metal detector? Dive into our guide and turn your curiosity into a fruitful hobby!

Searching for lead treasures is somewhat fun and it can also make a profit sometimes.

I started lead treasure hunting as a hobby a few years back and I wanted to learn about how much they are worth.

When I was a beginner my first question on lead was finding the top locations to find lead treasures.

I read so many journals of old detectorists and went for experts to find where I can find lead treasures.

Now with years of experience in lead treasure hunting, here’re the best places to find lead metal detecting

1. Beaches
2. Old battlefields
3. Old farms
4. Old homesteads
5. Abandoned mines
6. Ghost towns
7. Demolished buildings 
8. Parks
9. Playgrounds 
10. Old dumps and landfills
11. Rivers and streams 

The potential of finding lead in these areas is quite high.

So, in this article, I’ll share my personal experiences and what types of lead valuables you can find from the above locations. 

Plus, I’ll share the best places to find lead metal detectors inside the US and also all around the world.

So, let’s jump in!

How To Find The Best Places To Do Lead Metal Detection?

When it comes to finding a good location, doing thorough research is a must. 

If a whole narrative about the area can be built based on the history and geography of the area, it can lead to the pinpoint locations accurately.

Tip: Before visiting the location, make sure your metal detector is able to detect Lead.

Here, I’ll be discussing some of the methods that I’ve found useful in finding exact locations where you can find lead items,

Researching the Local History 

This is a good start if anyone wants to find a good place to find leads. Start by visiting libraries, museums, and historical societies in the area to gather information.

This can be helpful for you to identify potential locations where lead might be found. 

Old shooting ranges, landfills, old factories, and mining sites are some of the best locations to identify.

Use Maps and Photos

Use old maps and photos to identify areas that can be predicted lead is there. 

Look for regions that have changed significantly over time; lead disposal sites or ground deposits may have occurred there.

Talk to People

Talk to the locals around the area. Find old people to have a chat with who are living there for a quite long time. 

These people know well about the area and the changes that have happened. 

Some people might have worked in the places or witnessed those areas. This will be a plus point in the research.

Check for Soil Contamination 

A soil testing kit can be used to check whether the soil around the selected area is contaminated with lead. 

This can be helpful in searching areas that are most probably containing lead. 

Consider Searching on Private Properties 

Some private properties might have had lead contentS in the past. Old houses and buildings might be a good place. 

Ask for permission from the owners to check around. 

Follow Rules and Regulations 

Check if there are any local or federal rules when you detect lead. 

The area might sometimes require permits or permissions from authorities to search the location. 

How To Get Permission To Detect Lead?

Some places require permission in order to open to outsiders. This will involve several steps and it depends on the place that you’re planning to detect. 

I’ll explain to you some of the general steps that I went through to get permission to detect lead.

1. Identifying the property type: before starting to detect anything, get a clear idea about the place. The type of property can influence the requirement for a permit. 
2. Learn the rules and regulations– focus on the rules and regulations that are applied to the area of research. There will be specific rules for metal detecting and sometimes a permit will be required. Check with the authorities to get information.
3. Approach the owners– in order to obtain permission, you’ll have to meet the owners or the authorities first. Look for who is exactly running the property. Then let them know clearly about your purpose and what you are up to. Sometimes they might ask you to pay some amount to give permission. 
4. Submitting a request– some places are maintained and owned by different authorities. In that case, it might be mandatory to submit a request to a relevant department or officer with information about the location, purpose, and time frame. 
5. Approval– after submitting a request, approval has to be given in order to detect lead in the particular location. Once it’s received, the search can be initiated. 

Top Locations To Detect Lead When Metal Detecting

Let’s discuss each and every location you can find lead treasures. You can read about each place and travel to the area nearby first for promising results.

1. Beach

Detecting lead in beaches will be quite challenging since only a few places will be concentrated with lead. 

Look for specific places around the beach like stormwater runoffs, industrial wastewater releasing areas and boat yards.

These places can have contamination of lead.

2. Old Battlefields

Lead-based ammunition that has been used in the past is a good source of lead. Do proper research on the battlefield area before starting. 

Doing a soil sample before detecting will make the detection more specific and accurate. 

Also, try to consult environmental professionals.

3. Old Farms

Lead based pesticides and other fertilizers are used widely at farms. So the older the farm gets, the more contamination of lead it has. 

And also farms use lead ammunition, fishing rods and other objects which are based on lead. 

4. Old Homesteads

Old homes and buildings that are built in the ’70s probably contain lead-based fittings, pipes, insulation, and even paint. 

As demolition and renovation occur in these buildings, it can release lead to the environment and these will probably be buried under the soil.

5. Abandoned Mines

Mining and mineral excavation activities can result in lead contamination in soil. Therefore these areas will specifically have lead around the area. 

A proper soil test can exactly give the locations of these deposits.

6. Ghost Towns

Lead based objects such as lead shots, mining equipment, and artifacts can be found here as these could have been left behind by the previous residents. 

7. Demolished Buildings 

The demolished buildings are usually quite old and may have pipes, roofing materials, and artifacts made out of lead that are left behind the rubble after demolition.

8. Parks

The use of lead weights and bullets during previous carnivals and fairs makes parks another excellent spot to discover lead. 

9. Playgrounds

Old playground equipment may also contain lead paint and other lead-containing materials.

10. Old Dumps and Landfills 

Finding lead in these places would be rewarding as a lot of old objects and artifacts made with lead can be found here and they can be sold for historical value.

11. Rivers and Streams 

Lead objects can be located near river banks or streams. 

This is due to the past garbage disposal problems that occurred at these locations. 

Best States In The USA To Find Lead in Metal Detecting

There are so many places where lead can be detected. I have personally been to many states in the US specifically to detect lead treasures since I was super curious about this metal.

Some areas are more likely than others to have high levels of lead because of historical activities or the current situation. 

Here are some of the best states that I can recommend in the USA to find lead when metal detecting. 

1. Missouri

Southeast Missouri is home to the Old Lead Belt, which in the late 19th century was one of the richest lead mining regions in the world. 

Over 70% of the country’s lead was produced in this region, and there are numerous ancient mines and ghost villages to explore with a metal detector. 

Mine La Motte, Old Mines, Potosi, and Bonne Terre are some of the well-known lead mining locations in Missouri.

2. Wisconsin 

Early in the 19th century, lead mining started in Wisconsin, and the southwest region of the state soon became a notable lead producer. 

Over 50% of the lead in the USA was produced in this area at its height.

By doing proper detection lead artifacts in the area’s historical landmarks, abandoned mines, and ghost towns can be found.

Platteville, Mineral Point, and Shullsburg are a few of Wisconsin’s well-liked metal detecting spots.

3. Illinois 

One of the busiest lead mining regions in the USA throughout the 19th century was the Galena area in Illinois. 

Galena is well-known for its historical structures and has a long history of mining.

By using a metal detector, you can search Galena’s streets, parks, and open fields for lead artifacts and other historical relics.

4. Idaho

During the late 19th-century mining boom, the Coeur d’Alene region in Idaho was a large producer of silver and lead. 

At one point, the Bunker Hill mine in Wallace, Idaho, was the country’s top producer of lead and silver. 

You can use your metal detector to find lead and silver artifacts in the area’s numerous deserted mines and ghost towns.

5. Utah

One of the biggest copper mines in the world is the Bingham Canyon mine in Utah, and copper mining also produced lead. 

A metal detector can be used to find lead and other metals in the area’s numerous ancient mining sites and ghost towns.

Keep in mind to always go with the laws and regulations before detecting lead anywhere.

Best Places In The World To Find Lead in Metal Detecting

I personally have been to all countries that I’m going to list down for various treasure-hunting projects, even though not specifically to detect lead.

But I was able to find lots of lead treasures among other metals from those countries.

If any of you are interested in going to another country to expand your hobby, here’s what I found about some best countries for that. 

1. United Kingdom 

Over 2,000 years of lead mining have taken place in the UK, with particularly abundant deposits found in the Peak District, North Pennines, and Yorkshire Dales. 

These areas are filled with abandoned mines, quarries, and smelt mills, which can produce intriguing artifacts like lead tokens, weights, and tools.

The UK is also home to potential lead artifact-bearing Roman sites including Bath and Hadrian’s Wall.

2. Australia 

Lead mining in Australia has played a vital role in the growth of the nation since the 1840s. 

Although the lead resources in the mining towns of Broken Hill and Silverton are well-known, the nation is also home to historical artifacts including lead toys, weights, and pipes.

3. Canada

Canada has a long mining history and was one of the world’s top producers of lead during the 20th century. 

In addition to producing cold lead artifacts, the area around Cobalt, Ontario, one of the most well-known mining communities, also produces other metals.

4. Mexico

Large quantities of lead can be found in places like the Estado de Guerrero and Zacatecas, and lead mining in Mexico has a long history.

There are a lot of old mines and deserted settlements that might be worth exploring and finding. 

In addition, to lead, metal detectorists in these regions have also discovered lead artifacts.

5. Spain

With significant deposits of lead, Spain has a long history of mining. The history runs to lead mining on the Sierra Morena mountain in Andalusia, Spain. 

In addition to abandoned mines, historical structures like churches that may have been built with lead roofing or adornment may also include intriguing artifacts.

Congrats folks! Now you know all the best places to find metal detecting, not only in the US but also all around the world.

As of 2023, the global reserves of lead were estimated to be around 88 million metric tons, with Australia, China, and Russia having the largest reserves.

investingnews.com

So, let’s answer some frequently asked questions.

FAQs

Did I cover all you wanted to know about: Best Places to Find Lead Metal Detecting

In this article, I’ve deeply discussed all the top locations where I’ve been to lead treasure-hunting projects.

I’ve identified exact locations in many states you can find lead as well. You can travel to the area you prefer most and start your lead treasure-hunting journey.

The best places to find lead when metal detecting include old battlefields, former mining areas, abandoned industrial sites, demolished buildings, and riversides. Studying local history, and geography, and utilizing soil testing kits can also improve lead detection in areas like parks, farms, and even beaches.

Okay. I think I have said everything for you to have a clear idea of the best places to detect lead in metal detecting. 

I haven’t finished detecting the lead properly yet. I’m still focused on locating different locations where I can find many lead treasures with just one trip.

I can also spare some time to get back to you. So if you have anything to clarify, hit me up! 

Hope these ideas and the fun of detecting lead will keep you busy. Enjoy!.