INSPEC17197

• Permit No: M1977211
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: DMG MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 2/1/2000
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-77-211
INSPECTION DATE 02/01/99 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS ~W
This inspection was conducted as a result of recent inquiries into the operational status and
mine plan compliance of the Pikeview Quarry. The inspection was conducted by Tony Waldron
of DMG along with Greg Frances of Castle Concrete. The quarry is located along the northwest
side of Colorado Springs along the front range of mountains and extends vertically over a
short distance from what might be described as foothills up into the montane type environment
where fir and spruce trees are prevalent.
This inspection focused on becoming familiar with the site and discussing some options that
the operator may propose to enhance the final reclamation plan. In addition, it was to
investigate the concerns raised by residents of the subdivision immediately east of the
quarry about recent blasting activity that appears to have encroached upon stabilized
benches.
The operator is currently in investigative and pre-planning stages to develop an amended
reclamation plan that will "lay back" or lessen the slope on the north side of the quarry.
in order to achieve this the permit area would need to be enlarged by approximately 20 acres
(12-15 affected) primarily by extended it to the west above the current highwall. According
to the operator this allows two key items to occur. The first is to mine out the remaining
reserve of limestone down to the more stable granite base which underlies the
limestone/sandstone formation. Increased geotechnical-technical stability would result since
the granite is generally more uniform and weathers slower and more consistently than the
limestone/sandstone that is currently exposed. By doing this it allows the second key element
to occur, which is to lay back the slope of the quarry face to a grade that accepts the
current practices of benching and topsoiling much better. In theory, the majority of benches
along the north side of the quarry will disappear completely. Those remaining will be almost
fully backfilled, thereby, allowing the cut faces above the benches to be camouflaged under
the backfill material. This in turn would be topsoiled and vegetated.
Conceptually, the plan appears to provide fora more stable post-mining topography along with
a more aesthetically pleasing view since the benches will be virtually eliminated and
replaced by a permanent vegetative community. However, as with any major change to an
existing mining and reclamation plan, this proposal will need to be carefully reviewed
especially with respect to increased geotechnical stability.
The second area that the inspection focused on was compliance with the current mining plan.
The Division received a letter of concern about the level of blasting which was occurring at
the quarry as well as where this blasting appeared to be occurring. The letter indicated
that there appeared to be a newly blasted out area near the middle of the quarry where
completed "benches" once existed, and there did not seem to be any sort of effort to restore
those benches. There is a concave area near the middle of the pit that resulted from a slide
that occurred in 1999, however, this did not specifically result from blasting but occurred
as a result of a clay deposit that is sandwiched in between the underlying granite and the
Saguache sandstone becoming saturated and causing the limestone/sandstone layers above it to
move down slope. This did occur in an area that had been partially reclaimed and was
reported in the 1999 Annual Reclamation Report. Repair of this area will be addressed in the
forthcoming amendment.
As a result, it appears that the quarry is in compliance with their approved plan, however,
in reviewing the approved permit application in preparation for this inspection, it was