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Burtis Limited Impa~10 Operations Permit Applicatiol'r <br />6.3.3 EXHIBIT C -MINING PLAN <br />(1) The Turquoise deposits in the Cripple Creek area have been recognized <br />for many years. Turquoise deposits generally are shallow, less than 100 ft <br />deep. It is a secondary mineral formed by the weathering of apatite a mineral <br />found in igneous rock such as granite. Apatite is the source of phosphorus, in <br />cool, near surface atmospheric conditions. The phosphorus goes into solution <br />and these solutions come in contact with solutions of copper and combine in <br />aluminum bearing rocks to form turquoise. In the Cripple Creek area, the <br />origin of the gold deposits and the turquoise deposits are not related, however <br />the same fractures in the rock that would host the gold deposits could also <br />host the turquoise deposits, and gold can occur with the turquoise. The rock <br />type in the area was breccia, a highly broken rock composed of fragments of <br />granite or granite Schist. <br />There have been historic mining activities on, and adjacent to the permit <br />area. These activities, related to gold, turquoise, and gravel mining, have <br />previously disturbed the area, and include the access road to the site. These <br />activities were conducted from 40 to 60 years ago. <br />The present plan provides for limited mining in the previously disturbed <br />area, primarily in the bottom of the old gravel pit, where the turquoise veins <br />are exposed. Only small portions along the edges of the high bank, existing <br />from previous mining, may be disturbed, as represented on Exhibit E map 3, <br />and these would be reclaimed. <br />Because the shallow deposits are relatively soft, they can easily be excavated <br />with a small backhoe. The procedure would be to dig a pit along aturquoise- <br />bearing trend. As the fresh rock is exposed each bucketful is carefully <br />examined and the Turquoise is hand sorted from the rock. The face of the <br />rock surface is examined and turquoise is carefully extracted by hand. <br />Because of the nature of the operation, the mining production is measured in <br />buckets with 20 pounds a good days results. Turquoise mining is generally <br />done in campaigns with periods of time with no mining at all. Further <br />sorting, cleaning, and marketing require larger amounts of time. <br />Waste rock would then be stacked behind the backhoe or transported to an <br />adjacent area for later backfilling of the mining pit. <br />The face of excavation would be mined with an adequate backslope to prevent <br />slope failure. Experience in the district at the permit site, the Portland Pit <br />and the Altman / Goldstar pit has shown that a 50 degree backslope would be <br />adequate. <br />(a) Mining would commence shortly after this application is approved and <br />would continue for many years depending on the continuity of the deposit and <br />the markets. It is anticipated that activities would continue for at least 10 <br />years. <br />Page 10 <br />