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Whirlwind Mine Groundwater Characterization Report <br /> Salle#2 and Lumsden#5) exhibited flow in the past but have also ceased flow at the portals. <br /> Other mines in the study area that are not discharging include the Austin Portal, La Salle No. 1, <br /> La Salle No. 2 (Ukele), La Salle No. 2 (Gilmore), Lumsden No. 1, Lumsden No. 2, Pack Rat No. <br /> 1 (Hubbard), Bonanza, and Dutchman mines. <br /> No discharges were reported from the other portals in Lumsden Canyon area including the <br /> Bonanza, Dutchman, Hubbard, La Sal, La Salle# 1 and 2, Lumsden#1 and#3, and Austin #4 <br /> even though they are all located at the downdip edge (northeast edge) of the mesa. <br /> It is possible that the fractures of PR Spring intercept workings of the Packrat Mine and that a <br /> hydraulic pathway exists from the mine to the spring. Such a fracture system could affect all <br /> geologic units between the mine and spring, including the intervening mudstone unit observed <br /> between the bottom portion of the Top Rim where the spring emanates and the upper portion of <br /> the Top Rim at the Packrat Mine portal. If flow from the spring fracture system is entering the <br /> mine, it appears to be of insufficient quantity to cause mine water discharge. On the other hand, <br /> if fractures connecting the mine to the spring system exist then there is potential for mine pool <br /> water to mix with spring water prior to discharging to the surface. <br /> It is assumed that the spring has been in existence since before mining began. Unfortunately, <br /> there was little historical information found on this topic and no pre-mining water chemistry data <br /> exist for the spring. The chemical aspects of this issue are discussed in the next section. <br /> Presently, there is no evidence to suggest that the Salt Wash Top Rim sandstone is a viable <br /> aquifer; it may be better classified as an aquitard—a less permeable unit that may be capable of <br /> transmitting groundwater on a regional scale, but incapable of producing water from a <br /> production well. The Salt Wash Top Rim sandstone is not producing groundwater in existing <br /> historical mine workings at a quantity that is freely discharging to the surface. Other sources of <br /> mine water, namely, exposures of Brushy Basin, fractures conveying other groundwater, and <br /> drill hole intercepts, may be the main sources of groundwater to the mines. Other than pooled <br /> water that occurs near the portal at the Rajah 49 Mine, none of the historical adits are <br /> discharging water to the surface. <br /> The water chemistry of Salt Wash sources, PR Spring, Packrat Mine, and Rajah 49 Mine show <br /> water types similar to Brushy Basin sources, primarily of a sodium-bicarbonate type. PR Spring <br /> Western Water& Land, Inc. 43 <br />