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MINED LAND RECLAMATION BOARD 110(2) ANNUAL REPORT <br />~~'~,~,9 <br />For Season 2006 1~~` ~~ <br />TOPAZ MOUNTAIN GEM MINE <br />PERMIT NO. M-2002-003 <br />Summary: <br />AR y Z2 ' <br />D ~!r°p~ of llepa ~~ on, <br />7 Mazch 2007 8 and SafePy <br />Topaz Mountain Gem Mine did not operate during the mining season of 2006 as we are still <br />awaiting approval of the Forest Service Operations Plan. State permits were transferred from the <br />estate of Walter M. Rubeck to Joseph L. Dorris and state inspections were completed by Mr. Chris <br />Rowe (Colorado DRMS) and Wendy Dobrowolski (USFS) on 2 May 2006. Additional bond <br />money was submitted and State plans and permits were approved on 11 May 2006. Minor hand <br />digging for assessment purposes was conducted on weekends during several days during the <br />summer. Unfortunately, claim jumpers have actively been hand-digging numerous days on the <br />claims and have dug unauthorized pits. There was no significant production and no use of <br />mechanized equipment during 2006. <br />Map Denicting 2006 Operations: <br />Attached is a map of Topaz Mountain Gem Mine depicting current disturbances and features on the <br />Rubeck Placer and Rubeck Placer No. 2 claims. Current and existing excavations aze indicated by <br />red-dotted lines. The rectangulaz red-dotted line shows the permitted 4.5 acres which are cleazed <br />for disturbance and excavation. Future operations will be in the vicinity of the current existing <br />excavations and Site C. <br />Current Disturbances: <br />Minor disturbances totaling less than 0.02 acres occurred at Site C. Ninety percent of this <br />disturbance was from unauthorized claim jumpers. Additional, unauthorized small, scattered <br />disturbances have occurred above Site B and Site C. Additional unauthorized digging has taken <br />place at Site B, where high graders have dangerously undercut some lazge boulders. Total <br />unauthorized digging during 2006 is about 0.06 acres. All unauthorized digging has occurred <br />within the permitted 4.5 acres and will be reclaimed through normal operations. <br />Previous disturbances, prior to 2004 have not changed. These include two open excavation pits, a <br />topsoil storage pile, a berm, existing roadways, areas in which pipe for drainage was laid, a gray <br />water system, three platform areas for tents, washing azea, screening azea, and storage areas. Based <br />on field surveys, the two excavations and topsoil storage represent approximately 0.42 acres <br />disturbance. Site A (lower excavation) is about 0.24 acres. Site B is a small pit, about 0.08 acres. <br />The berm, storage platform areas, washing azea, and screening area represent another 0.06 acres. <br />The existing logging roads represent 0.25 acres. The Forest Service Road 211 and the turnout aze <br />an additiona10.23 acres. This acreage amounts to 0.96 acres of the 4.5 permitted acres presently <br />disturbed. <br />Additionally, numerous high graders have been entering the site and digging holes. This <br />disturbance may exceed 0.15 acres. All will be reclaimed as mining progresses. <br />