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JD-9 Mine Report <br />Geoscience Services <br />4.0 Model Description <br />A two-dimensional computer model was developed for the SM-18 that overlies <br />similaz geology as the JD-9 mine. However, there is approximately 200 feet of Brushy <br />Basin shales and mudstones at the JD-9 mine that are absent at the SM-18 mine. <br />Consequently, the extent if contaminant transport at JD-9 should be less than predicted <br />for SM-18. The model used 132 by 89 variable-size grids to define the problem domain <br />which is a vertical slice running from the mining operations to the nearby San Miguel <br />River. The base of the Entrada Sandstone forms the base of the model where it is <br />assumed that horizontal groundwater flow dominates flow conditions. Mixed flow <br />conditions were assigned to the end boundaries of the model. No flow conditions were <br />assigned to the unsaturated portion of these boundaries (flow in the unsaturated zone is <br />assumed to be vertical) and constant head boundaries were assigned in the Entrada <br />Sandstone aquifer based on river elevation and an assumed hydraulic gradient of 0.007 <br />(constant head boundaries assume horizontal saturated groundwater flow) Constant flux <br />conditions were maintain at the top of the model to simulation rechazge by precipitation <br />at a rate equal to 1/10°i of the yearly precipitation rate of 12 inches for the area. This is <br />considered a conservative assumption since potential evapotranspiration rates for the area <br />far exceed yeazly precipitation. <br />Nodes within the problem domain were assigned hydraulic properties to delineate <br />the various sandstone and shale/mudstone Layers that underlie the mine site. There is <br />only limited information available for the hydraulic properties of the geologic formations <br />that underlie the mine and control the transport of water and constituents of concern. <br />Consequently, these properties were estimated based on available data sources of tests <br />conducted in the specific geologic formation, regardless of the locations, or hydraulic <br />properties were estimated based on lithology. Table 2 provides a list of hydraulic <br />properties available for the geologic formations underlying the mine site. There is a <br />limited amount of information that requires estimates for these properties in the <br />groundwater flow and transport model. <br />