Laserfiche WebLink
March 17, 2016 <br /> Page 3 <br /> Also in 2002,Codell Sandstone monitoring well MW-001 was installed within the Years I -5 mine panel <br /> (Figure 1). Because the well was within the initial quarry excavation area it was removed before or during <br /> the beginning of mining. <br /> In 2003,MW-OOIA,MW-002,MW-003 and MW-004 were installed(Brown&Caldwell,2003). MW- <br /> OOIA was installed as a replacement Codell Sandstone well for MW-001. The screen in the well specifically <br /> isolated the Codell Sandstone. The geologist' log for the well indicates 3 feet of Juana Lopez shale between <br /> the Fort Hayes and Codell. The well also screened this shale interval. The bottom of the bentonite seal in <br /> the well was at the contact between this reported shale layer and the base of the Fort Hayes. MW-OOIA was <br /> found to remain dry for its entire life until it was plugged and abandoned in accordance with DRMS approval <br /> in April 2013 (GCC,2013). The absence of water encountered during quarrying the Fort Hayes and the dry <br /> conditions in MW-001 A substantiate the absence of water in both the Fort Hayes and Codell intervals in the <br /> vicinity of present mining. <br /> Wells MW-002,MW-003 and MW-004 were also plugged and abandoned in April 2013 in accordance with <br /> DRMS approval(GCC,2013),after studies revealed that they were installed in the alluvium within a losing <br /> reach of the St.Charles River(i.e. sourced by recharge from the river),and did not serve any purpose in <br /> monitoring for potential water quality impacts from the GCC plant or quarry(Contour Consulting <br /> Engineering,2013). <br /> Well MW-005 was installed between the plant site and the Edson Arroyo in July of 2008(Contour <br /> Consulting Engineering,2013). The well is completed in claystone(weathered shale)beneath a surficial <br /> clayey soil and screened from 9 to 25 feet. The borehole extended to 29 feet,but was terminated in the same <br /> claystone. Well MW-005 has been dry since it was installed. <br /> DISCUSSION ON GEOCHEMISTRY <br /> The relatively unique feature of the Fort Hayes Limestone at the GCC quarry is its high purity. It consists of <br /> relatively thick(30 to 40 feet)limestone beds with very thin shale interbeds. Collom(2000)prepared a <br /> geological report on the Fort Hayes Limestone for GCC in which it is noted that the limestone is relatively <br /> pure calcium carbonate(approximately 95%). The remaining mass is most entirely silica and alumina. <br /> Testing of the unit indicated that it contained exceptionally low concentrations of kerogens and sulfur. <br /> Kerogens are<0.10%in limestone and—0.2% in shale. The very thin shale interbeds in the Fort Hayes <br /> Limestone,which are a potential host for sulfide minerals,were noted to be free of excessive quantities of <br /> pyrite and other associated sulfide minerals. This was likely due to the well-oxygenated depositional <br /> environment. The average sulfur content of the limestone was reported as 0.07%dry weight as sulfide and <br /> sulfate,which is in the lower 20%of cement producing sources(Collom,2000). <br /> The metal content of the limestone was tested by GCC and reported to the DRMS(GCC,2015). Analyses of <br /> total metals were performed on the limestone,as well metals in Multiple Extraction Procedure(MEP) <br /> effluent. The MEP subjects the sample to multiple extractions using simulated precipitation(pH adjusted <br /> deionized water). The material tested was limestone collected from the initial crushing process and from the <br /> quarry floor. These results are shown in Table 1. The results are compared to published average and ranges <br /> of metal concentrations in limestone. This comparison indicates that concentrations in the GCC quarry <br /> limestone appear average for typical limestones,with possibly slightly above average concentrations of <br /> barium and selenium. MEP leachate concentrations for barium and selenium are still both well below <br /> Federal drinking water standards(Maximum Contaminant Levels,or MCLs)of 2 mg/L and 0.05 mg/L, <br /> respectively. With the exception of barium,very low metals concentrations were reported in the MEP <br /> effluent;mostly below or near the detection limit. <br /> Close Consulting Group LLC <br />