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<br /> <br />Bear Creek Quarry (M-1977-344) Permit Amendment <br />Holcim US Inc, 3500 Highway 120, Florence, CO 81226 <br />Phone (719) 288-1443 www.holcim.us 44 <br />The Fort Hays Limestone of the Niobrara Formation conformably overlies the Codell Sandstone and <br />consists of approximately 35 feet of medium to light gray, distinctly bedded limestone that contains <br />numerous thin seams of dark grey, calcareous, foraminiferal clay. This limestone is quarried for use in <br />cement production due to its high lime content. Minor amounts of pyrite, both as nodules and as finely <br />disseminated crystals, are present throughout the member. Fossils of Inoceramus deformus are found <br />occasionally in the broken quarried rock. <br />The Smoky Hill Limestone of the Niobrara Formation conformably overlies the Fort Hays Limestone and <br />consists of up to 124 feet of dark grey, thin-bedded, highly fissile, soft, calcareous shale that contains <br />numerous 1 to 3-feet-thick, light grey limestone beds, and is capped by a buff to yellowish tan, more <br />thickly bedded, argillaceous limestone that previously was used for high-lime at the old Portland plant. <br />Except for a 7 to 12-feet-thick basal layer that transitions into the Fort Hays Limestone in which the lime <br />content is nearly of cement quality, and the buff argillaceous limestone cap, the Smoky Hill Limestone is <br />considered overburden. <br />Numerous northwest-trending fold and fault structures are found in and around the Site. The Site is <br />situated on the nearly horizontal east limb beds of a small anticline, the Brush Hollow Anticline, which lies <br />just east of the major Florence-Canon City structural basin (i.e., syncline). The exposed strata in the <br />quarry appear to be dipping slightly to the southwest at an angle of approximately 4 degrees. <br />2.4.3 Mine Progression <br />Mining will commence in the northwest corner of the resource area and progress south and east through <br />the resource over the course of approximately 100 years. The mine plan is set up in 10-year blocks based <br />on plant capacity (Figure 2.4.3-1). During Years 0 to 10, mining will be initiated in the west side of the <br />property with extraction progressing north in Section 24 and south into Section 25 in Fremont County <br />simultaneously. Anticipated acres affected each 10-year period is provided in Table 2.4.3-1. <br />Table 2.4.3-1 Acres Affected Per 10 Years <br />CUT NO. AREA <br />(ACRES) <br />Development 18 <br />0 to 10 years 216 <br />10 to 20 years 269 <br />20 to 30 years 240 <br />30 to 40 years 478 <br />40 to 50 years 679 <br />50 to 60 years 276 <br />60 to 70 years 334 <br />70 to 80 years 273 <br />80 to 90 years 101 <br />90 to 100 years 191 <br />TOTAL 3,074 <br /> <br />In Years 0 to 10, initial mine development will occur within 18 acres to provide a cleared area for <br />construction of the shop and office building, utilities, MTAC and secondary crusher. It is anticipated to take <br />up to two years to complete the infrastructure development. Upon completion of development, mining will <br />continue in Sections 24 and 25 for the remaining eight years on approximately 216 acres. Codell <br />sandstone will be mined in this area to a depth of 15 feet, crushed and transported to the plant.