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inflows to the mine resembles that of the spoil water. Mine inflow studies have shown the seeps generally have <br />a conductivity of 3,000 µmhos /cm and are dominated by calcium, magnesium, and sulfate ions. <br />A sample from the major inflow in the 6 -Right Entry (Exhibit 49, Table E49 -1) has a similar mixed cation/anion <br />water type, with elevated sodium and chloride levels, and a conductivity of 4,660 Amhos /cm. The increased <br />sodium and chloride levels are probably due to some seepage from marine shales overlying the Wadge <br />Overburden, and from ion exchange of calcium and magnesium for sodium (see Exhibit 38). While the spoil <br />water is typically a calcium /magnesium — sulfate water (see annual Hydrologic Reports, the 1998 Site 115 water <br />is a sodium — sulfate water, Exhibit 49, Table E49 -1)_ This change in water type is probably due to ion <br />exchange mechanisms and leaching from the overlying marine shales. Overall, flooding of rubblized areas of <br />the mine under oxidizing conditions will tend to result in a water quality with higher sodium concentrations than <br />present backfill water quality, but with a conductivity of 4,000 to 7,500 µmhos /cm. <br />The water quality resulting from continued solute dissolution or changes in existing water chemistry under <br />reduced conditions is difficult to predict using standard techniques such as leaching tests. Geochemical <br />modeling was originally used to provide a better understanding of the mineral /water relationships that control <br />the equilibrium chemistry of water in the flooded mine workings. The model used is a code developed by the <br />U.S. Geological Survey referred to as WATEQF (Plummer, L.N., B.F. Jones and H.H. Truesdell, 1975, Water <br />Resources Investigations 76 -13). The x -ray analysis reports and the Emerson Spectrograph analysis provided in <br />Exhibit 36, Geochemical Analysis, indicate that for both roof and floor materials, quartz is the dominant <br />mineral, with significant concentrations of iron, aluminum, silicate hydroxides, saponite and clays. <br />The WATEQF model of mine water equilibrium, with respect to the water analysis from the flooded mine <br />section provided in Exhibit 37, Water Test of Flooded Mine Working, indicates that the water is nearly at <br />equilibrium with respect to quartz and calcite, and super - saturated with respect to Fe(OH)3 (Aq). An attempt to <br />assess the mineral equilibrium of the water analysis in a condition of zero free - oxygen failed because the model <br />would not converge_ Thus, the chemical composition of the sample would not be expected to remain the same <br />under reducing conditions. We would expect that pH and Eh conditions would revert to premining conditions <br />because of buffering due to calcite. Elements such as iron, manganese and other trace metals whose soluble <br />concentrations are controlled by pH and Eli conditions, would also revert to premining concentrations. Sulfate <br />reduction would not be expected because of limited organic matter to drive the reaction. Therefore, we expect <br />that the water quality of the flooded workings under reduced conditions is largely controlled by the quality of <br />the water, which exists prior to the onset of reducing conditions. Over most of the proposed mining area this <br />will tend to be represented by the predicted water quality for areas where caving will occur before flooding. This <br />applies for the materials tested. Based upon the water quality that has developed in actual flooded areas it <br />appears that overlying marine shales are contributing sodium sulfate and some iron and manganese. However, <br />the other conclusions of the water quality modeling appear to be correct. <br />In order to quantify how solute leaching of the caved overburden material might change over time, the results of <br />a leaching study performed by CYCC on overburden material collected from the adjacent Eckman Park Mine, <br />was examined. The study was performed by H.R. Gardner of the USDA, and is included as Exhibit 38, <br />Estimation of Salt Load from Spoil Material Based on Drill Samples. Seventeen Wadge overburden samples <br />were collected from four holes approximately one mile apart. These holes were drilled into the same <br />overburden strata as that found in the Foidel Creek Mine Pen-nit Area. Various size fractions were screened <br />from the overburden samples and leached separately. Composite samples were also leach tested. The results of <br />the study indicated that the <0.5mm size fraction represents 90 percent of all spoil fragments and contributes <br />virtually all of the salts. <br />Each of the 17 samples was placed in a sealed leach cylinder 9 em high and 10.5 cm in diameter. Samples were <br />packed to a bulk density of 1.45 gm /cc. A water source was connected to the top of each cylinder such that a <br />constant head was maintained and the flow regulated to about 50mm per day. The pH of the water was <br />maintained at a constant value of 7.1. When the leachate began to flow from the bottom of each cylinder, the <br />instantaneous electrical conductivity (EC} and the cumulative weight of leachate were measured and recorded <br />on about 20 m] fractions. When the volume of the leachate from the sample exceeded the volume of the sample, <br />the water source was turned off and the measurements stopped. <br />TR13 -83 2.05 -143 11/03/14 <br />