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Black Obsidian Pit—Permit M-1987-026 <br /> 112c Conversion Application <br /> Rule 6.4.4 <br /> Exhibit D <br /> Mining Plan <br /> Introduction <br /> Current operations consist of a small surface quarry operation contained within a 9.0-acre permitted <br /> (110) area; the surface quarry area itself occupies approximately 3.0 acres. Obsidian is the only product <br /> that is mined and exported from the site. The known extent of the obsidian deposit being quarried <br /> extends beyond the existing quarry area, and extends to a much larger area of land outside the 110 <br /> permit. The thickness of overburden lying above the top of the known obsidian deposit ranges from <br /> zero feet (i.e., obsidian visible in surface outcrops)to approximately 40 feet deep (as determined <br /> through mining and exploratory drilling). In many places the known vertical thickness of the obsidian <br /> deposit has been found to be greater than 100 feet. <br /> The operator wishes to expand the permitted acreage in order to be able to access and extract additional <br /> obsidian deposits for the following reasons: to extend the life of the mine, to increase the annual <br /> production of the mine, and investigate additional markets for this unique material. The expanded area <br /> will allow an increased rate of production, potentially up to several hundred thousand tons per year,yet <br /> still extend the life of the mine several more decades. <br /> In this conversion,the operator wishes to expand the existing quarry operation to contiguous land, and is <br /> now being called Phase I. Phase I fully comprises the southern half of the 112c permit area. The 112c <br /> conversion also includes a significant amount of land to the north of the existing quarry and Phase I, <br /> where preliminary determinations indicate a second substantial deposit of black obsidian. This will be <br /> considered as Phase II in this conversion,though no details of Phase II are presented at this time. This <br /> separate deposit has not been well defined on the ground, and it is only delineated in a preliminary <br /> manner on the maps at this time. The operator is including this land area in the 112c permit expansion. <br /> When the operator is ready to investigate and develop the northern Phase II obsidian deposit, he will <br /> contact DRMS to discuss any necessary documents to provide. <br /> Please see the Exhibit C maps, which depict the existing permitted area and 112c permitted area <br /> boundaries, and the various areas of activity. The maps depict the existing 110 operation, Phase I of the <br /> expanded 112c operation, the general location of Phase II, and the landownership pattern. The maps <br /> show the pattern of BLM-managed land and privately-owned land. <br /> This 112c permit conversion application is preceded by an approval given by the BLM Royal Gorge Field <br /> Office,for the expansion of the operation onto the specific areas included in this conversion. <br /> Existing Mining Plan <br /> The operator has mined this site intermittently since the issuance of the DRMS permit in 1987. The <br /> operation includes a surface extraction area (its limit defined by the existing quarry wall), a below-grade <br /> quarry floor, a level staging area and product stockpile pad, topsoil stockpile areas, stormwater controls, <br /> and an access road. The mined area within the existing permit boundary is small and has room to grow <br /> by several more acres. <br />