Other schools, like the Colorado School of Mines, are using Missouri’s Old Lead Belt as a case study to understand the social, economic, policy and environmental impacts mining has on communities.

Ste. Genevieve sits near Missouri's Old Lead Belt, where mining lasted from the 1700s to 1972 and spanned nearby Washington, Madison and St. Francois counties.

Kurt Limesand: Well, the Old Lead Belt and lead contamination issues throughout the Lead Belt became apparent to the EPA starting in the 90s based on a variety of events, including some mine pile ...

What the Old Lead Belt can teach Missouri about critical mineral mining By Ryleigh Hindle, Lydia Williams, Lucy Valeski and Reade Snelling Jun 20, 2025 ...