1999-01-19_REVISION - M1977326 (5)

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Review of Blasting Operations at Robinson Brick Company's Siloam Clay Mine 1.0 INTRODUCTION Robinson Brick Company currently maintains a clay mining operation on land adjacent to Siloam Road, located approximately 8 miles south of Colorado Highway 96. This Mine (Siloam Clay Mine), near Pueblo, Colorado is operated under terms of a minerals lease with the State of Colorado—owner of the mineral rights. Historically, various minerals have been mined at this site over a period of many years. A deposit of refractory clay lying under ten to twenty feet of Dakota Sandstone overburden has been mined at the site since 1957. The overlying Dakota Sandstone is sedimentary rock formed millions of years ago when layers of deposited marine sand and sediment were transformed and hardened into rock. Since the sandstone covers the clay deposit, it must be removed before the clay can be excavated. In most cases, blasting is required to facilitate the excavation sandstone in mining and construction work. After observing the condition of the sandstone at the Siloam Clay Mine site, GEOTEK agrees that removal of the Dakota Sandstone would indeed be impractical without the use of blasting. Like many other mining and construction operations where blasting might occur, neighbors and others have expressed concern about the potential effects of blasting. In response to these concerns, Robinson Brick Company retained GEOTEK & Associates, Inc. (GEOTEK) to evaluate the impacts that blasting at Siloam Clay Mine might have on nearby people, structures, animals and the environment in general. GEOTEK is an independent company, specializing in blast-engineering services. In July 1998, Gordon F. Revey of GEOTEK, the report's author visited the Siloam Mine and studied the nature of site and surrounding property. During this site investigation, the physical conditions of the Mine were studied and information regarding site geology, topography, facilities, neighboring property and known concerns about blasting aspects of the project was collected. A site map of the area showing various structures and facilities of concern and their location with respect to the proposed blasting area is shown in Figure 1.1 on the following page. In this report, the various analyses that GEOTEK has used to determine the relative impacts of blasting are presented along with GEOTEK's findings and recommendations regarding specific controls and safety procedures for the proposed blasting work. GEOTEK& Associates, Inc. Page 1 Januay 99