The high levels of metal in the water explain the pool's peculiar color, according to Professor Joshua Hamilton of Dartmouth Medical School.
"The deep blue color, water clarity and almost total lack of any plant or animal life in the main swimming hole there is because the water has such high levels of copper dissolved in it," Hamilton said.
Water from rain and snowmelt leeches metal from the waste rock of the mine and then collects in the quarry, but Hamilton noted that the water is not highly dangerous.
"[The water] should not present any significant risk to swimmers per se," he said. "However, I do not recommend swimming there, as it is very dangerous to swim in such quarries, and it is also considered trespassing."
Kevin Pfeiffer '09 has been to the Copper Mines several times and has not been troubled by concerns that he was trespassing.
"I guessed that it was private property, but I never really knew," Pfeiffer said.
First Constable Ed Eastman of Strafford, VT is responsible for enforcing the trespassing laws on the Elizabeth Mine property.
"I've been 16 years trying to boot them out of there because it's not a safe place," he said. "Just yesterday I kicked out 23 [tresspassers]. It's illegal for anyone to be up there."
Eastman cited the poor water quality and weak structural integrity of the ledges as safety hazards of the site and pointed out that he has the power to fine trespassers and have their cars towed and impounded.
"People have to get it though their heads that they don't own the property," said Eastman. "I'd rather not see people going up in there."
Kayla Eisman '09 visited the mines with a group of friends over the Fourth of July.
"I went because I was told by upperclassmen that it was really fun," Eisman said. "We wanted to go adventuring."
Eisman said she was aware that she was on private property, but that did not stop her from exploring the mine.
"There's some barbed wire you have to step over," she said. "It's pretty badass."