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polishing step in Mine Water Pond#3. After Mine Water Pond #3, the water discharges through <br /> permitted Outfall 002A into Sneffels Creek pursuant to Colorado Discharge Permit System <br /> (CDPS)Permit No. CO-0000003. Sneffels Creek ultimately confluences with the Uncompahgre <br /> River. <br /> 2.3 TSFs and Waste Rock Disposal <br /> The tailings generated by the mill and waste rock generated during mining are generally <br /> considered inert due to the calciferous nature of the host rock. However, there is a potential for <br /> future mining activities to intercept acid-generating vein structures and therefore are discussed <br /> further as part of the EPP. <br /> 2.3.1 Tailings <br /> As described in the mine plan (Exhibit D), tailings from the underground mill will be produced <br /> at a rate of approximately 75,000 tons per year. The ore generally consists of approximately a 1 <br /> to 1.5 foot thickness of quartz vein host rock and approximately 3.5 feet of wall rock, which <br /> allows room for miners and equipment. The quartz veins have 4 minerals of interest: <br /> - galena (PbS) <br /> - sphalerite (ZnS) <br /> - chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) <br /> - tetrahedrite (CU12Sb4S13)with a variant freibergite which has some silver(Ag) <br /> replacing some of the copper. <br /> The other minerals present in the vein (which make up most of the mass) are inert quartz and <br /> other host materials, including the San Juan tuff, which is a calcite-rich material and acid <br /> neutralizing. <br /> It is expected that these minerals will comprise approximately 20-40% of the vein material. The <br /> wall rock around the veins is primarily andesitic tuff, which is a very fine volcanic rock, <br /> consisting of feldspar, amphiboles, and biotite. Since the milling process is designed to extract <br /> the sulfide minerals, the tailings consist of feldspar, amphiboles, and biotite, which are inert <br /> minerals. <br /> See Exhibit D for details about the mine plan, mill design and process flow. <br /> Tailings will be placed in one of two TSFs, the Revenue TSF and the Atlas TSF, both of which <br /> are described below. <br /> The Revenue TSF is in an active avalanche path. Ouray Silver Mines will control blast <br /> avalanches as necessary and will only haul tailings to the Revenue TSF when it is safe to do so. <br /> Tailings will be hauled directly to the Revenue TSF from the mill but will be hauled along a <br /> M-2012-032 <br /> Amendment 02 Exhibit U <br /> December 2021 U-6 <br />