Laserfiche WebLink
(Page 2) <br />MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1987-026 <br />INSPECTION DATE 8/24/05 <br />OBSERVATIONS <br />INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO <br />This inspection was pertormed by the Division as part of its monitoring of Construction Materials 110 permits. The operator <br />was contacted about the inspection, but was not present during the inspection. There was no onsite activity at the time of the <br />inspection. The entrance gate was locked, and access to the site was gained on foot. <br />The required permit ID sign was posted at the locked entrance gate. <br />The highwall ranged from 15 to 40 feet in height, with average height of 25 feet, and was estimated to be about 300 feet in <br />length. Active mining appears to be occurring on the north and northeast parts of the highwall. The floor is level. There is a <br />water-filled sump in the center of the pit floor. It is not clear if this is simply for controlling stormwater runoff or a water supply <br />for onsite (drilling?) use. The sump is below grade; it does not have an outlet to release water to the stream system. It is <br />assumed that the sump will be backfilled during reclamation. <br />The material exposed in the face is composed mainly of durable, unweathered mostly black obsidian. As noted in past <br />inspections, there are large-sized inclusions of spherical, easily weathered, light-colored rock ("volcano bombs") that tend to <br />contaminate the obsidian during extraction. There were at least 25 of these spheres, measuring 3 to 6 feet in diameter, visible <br />in the highwall. <br />Mining of the black obsidian is by blasting and hauling the extracted material. The processing is all pertormed offsite at the <br />operator's Canon City plant. There was very little stockpiled obsidian in the pit. <br />There is a large stockpile of topsoil along the southern side of the pit. The stockpile appears to have stable slopes and <br />adequate vegetation at this time. There were no areas above the active highwalls that exhibited recent topsoil stripping. The <br />operator is aware that, with the scarcity of native topsoil but a real need for adequate topsoil to support revegetation, it is <br />important to carefully strip and stockpile the topsoil ahead of the advancing highwall. <br />The bond has not been reviewed since 2000. This office will recalculate the bond and notify the operator of any increase. <br />No further items were observed during the inspection. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to the Division of <br />Minerals and Geology, 701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango, Colorado 81301, Attn: Bob Oswald; phone no.970-247-5193. <br />I & E Contact Address <br />NAME Bill Tezak <br />OPERATOR Colorado Quarries, Inc. <br />STREET 270 S. 15`" St. <br />CITY/STATE/ZIP Canon Citv. CO 81212 <br />cc: Harry Posey, DMG <br />^ CE <br />^ BL <br />^ FS <br />^ HW <br />^ HMWMD (CH) <br />^ SE <br />^ WQCD (CH) <br />^ OTHER <br />