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2021-07-19_REVISION - M1987026
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2021-07-19_REVISION - M1987026
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Entry Properties
Last modified
1/11/2025 4:35:01 AM
Creation date
7/20/2021 6:08:07 AM
Metadata
Fields
Template:
DRMS Permit Index
Permit No
M1987026
IBM Index Class Name
REVISION
Doc Date
7/19/2021
Doc Name
Request for Conversion of Permit
From
Colorado Quarries Inc.
To
DRMS
Type & Sequence
CN1
Email Name
ECS
MAC
AWA
Media Type
D
Archive
No
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Bureau of Land Management Environmental Assessment <br /> Royal Gorge Field Office DOI-BLM-CO-F020-2020-0036 EA <br /> On April 10, 2020, BLM received a complete mineral materials application from Colorado <br /> Quarries Inc. (Appendix A). The applicant proposes to initiate production of federal minerals <br /> within the current 9.0-acre mine footprint and expand reserves an additional 40 acres (Figure 2). <br /> The expansion proposal includes an additional 7.75 acres of BLM managed lands, resulting in a <br /> proposed 10.75 acres of total BLM disturbance. The remaining 38.14 acres are privately owned. <br /> The applicant proposes to expand the current CDRMS-permitted boundary to a 112(c)permit, <br /> which requires BLM action, as well as updates to all existing federal, state, and county permits <br /> prior to the issuance of the mineral material contract. No mining or other activity may occur on <br /> BLM managed lands until the NEPA and contract issuance process has been completed. <br /> State-permitted operations have involved stripping the topsoil and overburden to expose the <br /> underlying obsidian deposit. The topsoil and overburden are stockpiled and re-seeded for later <br /> use in reclamation. Site preparation occurs simultaneously as mining gradually progresses to the <br /> north/northwest. Mining has been occurring within two locations over approximately 40,000 ft2 <br /> along a 40-foot highwall. Due to the stability and hardness of the obsidian deposit,the highwall <br /> has had a consistent 1:1 (Horizontal: Vertical) slope with an approximated 10-foot-wide bench. <br /> The obsidian is a massive deposit, with minimal natural fractures and no bedding or slip planes; <br /> therefore, the highwall/bench configuration has been structurally stable over the past 40 years. <br /> The material is extracted by drilling and blasting the obsidian from the overburden and either <br /> crushing and screening onsite or hauling the material to a processing facility in Canon City, <br /> Colorado. <br /> Geologically, the material has been mined from a tertiary volcanic glass deposit known as <br /> obsidian, which has an approximated maximum vein thickness of 120 feet. The obsidian deposit <br /> within the project area is considered geologically unique, as white snowflake-like crystals called <br /> cristobalite, formed at high temperatures within vesicles in the obsidian glass. The cristobalite <br /> crystals range in size from microns to 4 feet in diameter. As a result of this unique geologic <br /> characteristic,the obsidian is in high demand as both crushed landscaping material and mineral <br /> specimens. Mining operations have occurred in this area since the late 1800s,with Colorado <br /> Quarries' Black Obsidian Quarry operating since the late 1980s. Obsidian can be used for <br /> various industrial applications. This obsidian material has been primarily mined as landscaping <br /> material and road base; however,this material has also been mined for the precast concrete <br /> industry. <br /> Since the existing mine and proposed expansion are located a quarter of a mile north of the City <br /> of Silver Cliff(Figure 1), the growing community and surrounding municipalities would directly <br /> benefit from the availability of local mineral materials. The expansion would not only provide <br /> the operation with additional reserves and an extended mine life, but also expand the production <br /> rate and subsequently increase job opportunities. <br /> 4 <br />
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