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6) The rock mass exposed in the middle level of the quarry continues to have <br />a higher fracture density and be more weathered than the rock excavated in <br />the main pit. Iron oxide staining is common on many of the joint surfaces. <br />7) As noted in previous annual reports, a minor east-west striking unnamed <br />fault zone is mapped in the northwest corner of the main pit, and is also <br />visible in the east wall of the main pit (Figure 3). The rock within the fault <br />zone is more broken and blocky, with parallel fracturing and iron-stained <br />surtaces. Field measurements indicate that the fault has an apparent dip of <br />80° to 85° to the south and a general strike azimuth of 260° to 270°. The <br />width of the fault zone varies in the main pit between approximately 20 and <br />50 feet. Excavation of the north benches will continue to intercept the fault, <br />and the length of the fault exposure in the walls will increase as mining <br />progresses. The fault will continue to be intercepted near the northwest <br />corner of the pit as the pit is excavated to the final depth. Based on the <br />average dip of the fault, at approximately an elevation of 6,260 feet, the <br />fault may be exposed across the floor of the main pit. As mining in the main <br />pit continues, monitoring of this interface will facilitate a better <br />understanding of how the slope will behave. <br />9) Raveling conditions resulting from rock fragmentation during blasting and <br />subsequent freeze/thaw conditions exist along each wall in the quarry, but <br />appear more prevalent along the south wall possibly due to the north facing <br />exposure. <br />10) The small surficial slide located in the exposed highwall face along the west <br />wall, which was noted in previous annual reports, appears unchanged from <br />over multiple years of observation. The slide does not have any impact on <br />the overall stability of the wall, as it is limited to less than a single bench in <br />height, and is considered a localized wedge failure. <br />-12- <br />