Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Mine, lab evacuated after chemical scare

No injuries were reported, but a hazardous materials team and several other fire officials were traveling to the small mining town near Tonopah.

The chemical, picric acid, is used to determine the purity of certain substances such as gold and silver, said Bob Leinbach, spokesman for the Clark County Fire Department.

Leinbach said that because the chemical became dry, or crystallized, it is extremely sensitive to movement and could explode.

Workers in the lab and in the mine were evacuated about 2 p.m. Leinbach did not know how many people that involved, but more than 500 work in the mine.

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