Laserfiche WebLink
Climax Mine Status 2 May 30, 2007 <br />Mill tailing at Climax are impounded by four dams constructed of tailing sand. The Mayflower, or No. 5- <br />Dam was graded and capped with locally derived borrow material in the late 1980s and seeded with a <br />herbaceous mix. The No. 1 Dam, which impounds the Robinson tailing on the west, was graded and was <br />capped using open pit waste rock, limed, and seeded in the early 1990s. Subsequently, pathogen free <br />biosolids were applied to part of the dam face and the area was reseeded. The most extensive tailing dam <br />reclamation project at Climax to date was on No. 3 Dam in 1997. No. 3 Dam impounds the Ten Mile tailing <br />and is located in Summit County. The dam was graded and benched, capping material and plant growth <br />medium derived from borrow pits at the 3-Dam toe were applied, and the dam face was seeded. Surface <br />water management channels were constructed on the dam face benches and down the groins of the dam <br />face. <br />Climax Mine affected lands are located on either side of Colorado Highway 91 and are thus highly visible to <br />the motoring public. In the mid-1990s, Climax completed projects to reclaim as much of the Highway 91 <br />frontage as possible. The most substantial of these projects was the grading and vegetation of the `E' <br />Stockpile in Summit County. To facilitate vegetation, topsoil salvaged during the Oxide Pond reclamation <br />project was spread on `E' Stockpile, and Class A biosolids have also been applied. Trees and shrubs have <br />been planted on the reclaimed portion of the `E' Stockpile. <br />Large amounts of concrete were required at Climax for construction of surface and underground facilities <br />and stabilization of underground workings. Concrete was manufactured in onsite batch plants fed by a large <br />gravel pit located in and adjacent to the Arkansas River below the Storke Yard in Lake County. The gravel <br />pit operations areas have all been reclaimed and the riverine and riparian functions of the river have been <br />restored. <br />During the 1970s, Climax constructed an extensive system of canals to divert fresh water around the <br />affected lands. Today all surface and ground water within the diversion canal perimeter is collected and <br />passed through the Climax water treatment system, from whence it is discharged to Ten Mile Creek. With <br />flows through the plant that vary seasonally from 2000 to 150,000 gallons per minute, the treatment process <br />produces large volumes low density sludge. Recognizing the rapid consumption of available sludge storage <br />capacity in the Ten Mile and Mayflower Ponds, in 2005 Climax began construction of the $19 million <br />Sludge Management Project. The primary components of this project are the Sludge Densification Plant <br />and two high density sludge disposal cells at Ten Mile Pond. <br />Given the size of the Climax Mine and the extent ofthe affected land, weed infestations are inevitable. <br />Climax has an ongoing and comprehensive weed control and eradication plan; weed control is a regular <br />inspection item for the Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety, and Climax is required to provide <br />annual progress reports to the Division. <br />Climax Mine History Highlights: <br />•First significant mining during WWI <br />•New uses and markets for molybdenum developed in 1920s and 30s <br />•Highest priority mine designation from the U.S. government during WWII <br />