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Whirlwind Mine Groundwater Characterization Report <br /> Packrat Mine may originate directly from the Salt Wash Top Rim sandstone or be the result of <br /> mixing of Burro Canyon and/or Brushy Basin groundwater. PR Spring has exhibited a constant <br /> discharge for several decades, whereas the Salt Wash Top Rim unit has not shown a prolific <br /> production of groundwater in historical exploration and mining operations. The source of the <br /> spring water may be hydraulically connected to overlying, more prolific aquifers, such as the <br /> Brushy Basin aquifers through a fracture network. The mixing of such source water with any <br /> Salt Wash water, or prolonged contact with Salt Wash material could result in the observed <br /> chemical signature. <br /> Work done by USES on behalf of Umetco, in 2001 reported that the spring emanates from a <br /> joint in the outcrop of the Salt Wash beneath a gray mudstone that separates the Top Rim into <br /> two separate sandstone units. USES postulated that this mudstone unit serves as a barrier to <br /> vertical downward migration of groundwater from the overlying ore-zone sandstone to the <br /> underlying sandstone unit associated with PR Spring. USES further stated that any groundwater <br /> percolating downward to the mudstone unit was directed to the northwest toward the Lumsden <br /> fault where it would eventually dissipate. <br /> USES, made the comment that if the groundwater of the Packrat Mine was mixing with <br /> groundwater of PR Spring, then the following would be expected to occur: <br /> 1. Analytes with lower concentrations in the Pack Rat Spring water than Packrat Mine <br /> water would be expected to increase. <br /> 2. Analytes with higher concentrations in the Pack Rat Spring water than Packrat Mine <br /> water would be expected to decrease. <br /> Umetco goes on to evaluate water chemistry data from the Packrat Mine and PR Spring <br /> concluding there was no indication that the two waters were commingling and were essentially <br /> not hydraulically connected. <br /> The conclusion made by USES is based on a simple mixing equation and may only be <br /> applicable under conditions where the Packrat Mine sees new mining activity. Currently, under <br /> the somewhat lengthy static and inactive status of the Packrat Mine, waters from the mine could <br /> be mixing with PR Spring water and vice versa. It is possible that water sources that contribute <br /> Western Water& Land, Inc. 45 <br />