There is no doubt that lead mining at Tyndrum has created a substantial long-term physical and chemical legacy that is far more dynamic and extensive than the current visible degradation implies. Although the study has barely scratched the surface of the astonishing complexity of the historic and current pollution problem and many questions remain unanswered, clear relationships between mining activity and pollution have emerged. These suggest that lead values varied according to the organic content of the soil material, topography, and particle size, but importantly the dressing of lead ore in preparation for smelting consistently produced the greatest concentrations that were in some instances 200 times greater than background levels. Although no clear correlations were established between the distinct periods of Tyndrum’s history and pollution values, a clear association has emerged between concentration levels and the quantity of ore raised rather than the manner, i.e. efficiently or wastefully, in which the ore is produced. This throws some doubt on the concept of ecoefficiency: the notion of reducing production costs whilst concomitantly safeguarding the environment. Although driven by economic as opposed to environmental concerns, the SMC and the second marquis, in particular, endeavoured to produce more for less by adopting new and