INSPEC38056

• Permit No: M1982020
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: DMG MINERALS PROGRAM INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 8/5/1997
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

(Page 21
MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-82-020
INSPECTION DATE 08/05/97 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS RCO
OBSERVATIONS
This inspection by the Division was performed as part of its monitoring of permitted 110 metals mines. The operator was contacted
about the inspection but was not present for it.
The mine has a permitted (vat leach) mill facility, which is currently not being used. Part of the approved onsite processing of ore
from the mine involves use of a lined cyanide pond. While there is no milling being carried out, the pond is occasionally used for
an evaporation pond for holding mine water. This water has been tested for metals and cyanide, and is apparently good quality.
There is no current underground mining, but the operator is presently dewatering the underground workings in order to allow access
to them. According to a statement made during the pre-inspection contact phone call, he is dewatering the mine to give a party
interested in the mine access to it. During this inspection, the water level in the pond was seen to be less than a foot below the
top of the containment berm (most notably at the north and northwest paints on the perimeterl• This instance of filling the pond
did not apparently overtop the containment. For stability, however, the operator should leave more freeboard available during future
dewatering events.
The operator also caused mine water to enter the existing tailings pond. There is a wetted surface along the drainage route between
the mill discharge location and the impounded water; there is about one-quarter of water surface in the tailings impoundment. It
is not escaping the site as surface water.
Contaminated soil, observed during the last inspection (dated 10/10/96) has been removed, and the operator supplied a statement
for the file describing that removal. As part of that spill clean up and prevention the operator removed an unused fuel tank and
bermed the one which will be used. The work overall seems adequate for its purposes.
There were no other items noted and no problems noted during this inspection. If there are questions about this report, please
contact this insector at this address or phone:
Division of Minerals and Geology
484 Turner Dr., Bldg F-101
Durango CO 81301
I & E Contact Address
NAME
OPERATOR
STREET
CITY/STATEIZIP
phone: [phone].
Bill Gvdesen
229 CR 11
Gunnison CO 81230
cc: Tom Gillis, DMG
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