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<br /> <br />TECHNICAL REVISION NO. 009 TO PERMIT NO. M-8&112 <br />FOR THE INCLUSION OF AN INCO SOz/AIR CYANIDE <br />DESTRUCTION SYSTEM AT THE SAN LUIS MINE <br />This technical revision Is submitted In compliance with Abatement Requirement No. 4, Tailings <br />Cyanide Detoxification, as approved by the Colorado Mined Land Redamation Board on April 23, <br />1992 for the San Luis Facility. Battle Mountain Resources (BMR) has undertaken athree-step <br />approach for meeting the requirements of Abatement Order No. 4. The three steps are as fellows: <br />1) Operation of a CYTOX free cyanide destruction system, <br />2) Operation of a hydrogen peroxide free and WAD cyanide destruction system, and <br />3) Construction and operation of an INCO SOz/Air cyanide destruction system. <br />BMR recognizes that along-term (I.e., Ilfe of project) resuutlon to Abatement Requirement No. 4. <br />is Imperative and intends to install an INCO SOz/Air system for cyanide destruction to serve this <br />purpose. However, equipment purchasing and installation constraints preclude operation of the <br />INCO SOZ/Air system until late September 1992. This known time delay necessitated the need for <br />implementation of interim cyanide destruction systems, namely CYTOX and hydrogen peroxide. <br />The CYTOX destruction (ferrous sulfate) system is currently operating, as approved under Technical <br />Revision No. 005. Technical Revision No. 007 for the use of hydrogen peroxide on an interim basis <br />for the reduction of WAD cyanide concentrations in the tailings impoundment was submitted to the <br />Coorado Mined Land Reclamation Division (MLRD) on May 26, 1992, approved on June 12, 1992, <br />and commenced operation on June 15, 1992. BMR currently plans to continue operation of both <br />the CYTOX and hydrogen peroxide systems until the INCO SOz/Air system is installed and <br />functioning as designed. <br />This technical revision includes a brief description of the INCO SOz/Air process, as well as a <br />~\ detailed discussion of the process as applied to the San Luis site. Finally, an evaluation of projected <br />tailings geochemistry is included along wRh a proposed monitoring program. <br />PROCESS CHEM{STRY <br />Under alkaline conditions (pH > 8), sulfur dioxide (SOz) in the presence of a copper catalyst <br />oxidizes both free and weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide. Free cyanide is oxidized to cyanate <br />(OCN") according to the following reaction: <br />25301/RNO610.RPT INCO SOZ/Air Technical Revision Page 1 <br />June 18, 1992 San Wis Mine <br />