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MINING PLAN • • EXHIBIT D (coNr.l <br />strip topsoil from the first layer of stone we lift the stone and <br />allow the topsoil to drop from the rock. The soil accumulates on <br />the next layer of rock that has a fairly uniform level surface. <br />it is then moved from this smoother surface and stockpiled for <br />use when reclamation begins or respread on areas where mining is <br />done. Once the topsoil is removed and stockpiled, the next layer <br />of stone is removed. Each layer is worked generally from west to <br />east because it is easier to remove the slabs. There are times <br />when it is necessary to drill and shoot a layer to separate the <br />strata so the equipment can get under it and lift it. This has <br />to be done because as mining gets deeper the surface of the stone <br />fractures tend to disappear and the stone cannot be lifted. <br />Each layer of stone varies in thicknesses of 4 to 20 <br />inches. We have found that the upper layers are thicker than the <br />lower layers along the west side, but just the opposite on the <br />east. We expect to reach a level where the strata are too thick <br />to break or move. When that happens soil will be spread over the <br />rock and grasses will be planted. On the western edge where <br />there is little overburden this level may be 10 or more feet <br />below the existing surface. On the east where there is 12 feet <br />of overburden the floor could be 20+ feet deep. At this time we <br />can only estimate how far down from the surface that will be. <br />initially the large pieces of stone are moved from the area <br />being mined into staging areas around the perimeter of the mine <br />or into the stone yard. The smaller pieces are left in place <br />until laborers are brought in to palletize or stack them. Once <br />the pallets are full they are moved to the stone yard and pre- <br />pared for shipping. When the smaller stone has been removed the <br />residual overburden is stockpiled to create slopes or replaced in <br />areas previously mined. As mining progresses across the parcel <br />we will continue to salvage any topsoil encountered so it will be <br />available for reclamation. Removal of surface stone will take <br />place during this stage also. <br />Stage 2 -SURFACE STONE AREA <br />This stage covers the remaining 187.17 acres ± of the <br />permitted area. Initially we do not expect to develop the slab <br />rock that underlies this area, because we have an adequate supply <br />of easily mined slab rock on the south stage. This stage will be <br />primarily used to supply the unique surface stone found along the <br />canyon and elevation breaks on the north side of the site. In <br />other words, this stage will be used as a stone picking/selecting <br />11 <br />