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MINING PLAN <br />Therefore, particularly in the upland azeas, mining will begin at known locations of good sand. <br />Usually, a backhoe is used to dig holes at a closer frequency than the initial exploration holes. These <br />additional holes help define the configuration of that pazticular deposit of sand, thus indicating the <br />possible extent of the deposit and providing some idea of where to start mining so the overall <br />direction of mining can be achieved. Once the excavation begins it is then expanded, following the <br />sand where it leads. By stazting at known exploration holes more or less located toward the tops of the <br />hills or ridges, the general downhill direction of the mining is assured. <br />In the lowland areas, the problems associated with intermittent deposits is not so great. It still <br />occurs simply because that is the nature of alluvial deposits on gently sloping land. Still, though, the <br />general mining approach will be the same as in the uplands. That is, an initial defined area around a <br />known location of good sand will be established and the mining will proceed from there. Fortunately, <br />though, it is less likely that a defined lowland deposit will suddenly end as often occurs in the older <br />upland deposits. In the lowlands, the consistency generally covers larger areas, but it can still vary <br />enough that suitable sand in one area can decline and a new area needs to be found and opened. <br />In both cases, when a deposit runs out and a new area needs to be found, the old azea is <br />abandoned and final reclamation implemented there. Thus, as a consequence of the nature of these <br />deposits, mining areas can be large or small or any other size and maybe separated by azeas that <br />remain undisturbed. Of course this limits pre-mine planning to a more conceptual approach than the <br />more customary well defined, location dependent approach. That is, the overall conceptual processes <br />for mining and reclamation are well defined, but the extent and actual application to any one area <br />must remain flexible so the circumstances of each area and the defined mining and reclamation <br />processes can be adapted to best suit each site. <br />Coal Creek Sand Resource Amendment 3 (2005) - M-1988-044 Exhibit D Page 23 <br />