Question on Lead finds in streams

[bologna321]

Hi,

I've found a few round balls and maybe a civil war era bullet in a stream, but they lack the white coating I'd expect of something that old. Has anyone had similar finds, does the stream wear off the coating or does the water not allow it to form?

 

[cavtrooper]

I personally have not found any bullets in water. However, if you do a search for acquachigger on youtube, you will see most of what he recovers from water lacks the white coating as well.

 

[bologna321]

Thanks, I'll check it out

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Depends how much dissolved oxygen is in the water, I guess.

 

[CASPER-2]

these are from salt water spot off a Rev war/Civil war fort - not cleaned at all - when found they had a lite black powder coating on them that just came off
rolling them in your hand - water does not allow them to oxidize like they do in dirt - depending on water content and soil
minerals in the stream/ or other bodies of water - some may discolor - but they usually just come out gray