ENFORCE25295

• Permit No: M1988112
• IBM Index Class Name: Enforcement
• Doc Date: 8/23/1993
• Doc Name: REVIEW OF BATTLE MTN RESOURCES INC SAN LUIS MINE RECLAMATION EVALUATION MAY 1993
• From: DMG
• To: LARRY OEHLER
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE OF
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
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Department of Natural Resources ~~; <oyU
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1313 Sherman 51., Room 215 ~ `" .~ ~
Denver, CO 80203 •• ~ rays
Phune: 13031 866-3567 _
FAX: [phone]
Roy Romrr
Governor
Michael B. Ln ng
August 23, 1993 Uimsmn Dneaor
TO: Larry Oehler
FROM: Harry Posey ~~)
RE: Review of Battle Mountain Resources Inc. San Luis Mind Reclamation
Evaluation, May 1993.
Following are my comments and questions on Battle Mountain'e~ Reclamation
Evaluation. In summary, it does not appear that BMRI's sampling me hodology was
designed to adequately evaluate the composition of the interstitial luids in the
tailings. Most of the tailings were retrieved from unite above the standing
water table and above moat of the unite deposited during the tine when high
cyanide concentrations were reporting to the tailings. Secondly, it~appeare that
the tailings do have a net acid generating potential, and the im lications of
that degree of potential acid generation needs to be put in quali ative terms.
Third, some of the metal concentrations from the leach tests exceed urface water
standards.
At the end of my review are additional comments responding the the comments and
concerns of the Peoples Alternative Energy Services.
As you know, I will be out of the office until August 30, so willbe unable to
attend the scheduled meeting between Battle Mountain, the Divisioirt, and local
citizens.
ABATEMENT ITEM #`8, Modification of Tailings Area REclamation Plan.
"The Division is concerned that the introduction of cyanide intoithe tailings
sera may be indicative of the inclusion of associated metallic con i~aminants not
originally anticipated in its approved operations and reclamationplan. BMG's
preliminary suspicions of altered metallic ore content, and coincid ntal failure
of the designed processing cyanide recovery circuit, are additions indications
of a modification in the tailings chemical constituency. If ~he chemical
constituency of the tailings is different than the original protections, the
projected characterization of the tailings as non-toxic and chemic Ily inert is
suspect. Change in the tailings constituency may render the ap roved final
reclamation plan for the tailings inappropriate.
"Zn Iight of any information developed by BMG in the course of is required
investigations, analyses and redesign, including any modifica ion to its
processing methodology, BMG shall modify its tailings area detoxification and
reclamation plans appropriately. Appropriate applications, upported by
comprehensive analytical results and design evaluations, shall be submitted by
BMG to the Division for review and approval no later than 180 d~}'s following
completion of the cyanide detoxification of the tailings are¢s contents,
described in item (4) above."