2007-11-07_HYDROLOGY - M1977300

• Permit No: M1977300
• IBM Index Class Name: HYDROLOGY
• Doc Date: 11/7/2007
• Doc Name: Hydrologic evaluation of mine closure & reclamation
• From: Whetstone Associates
• To: Cotter Corpoartion
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Schwartzwalder Mine -Hydrologic Evaluation of Mine Closure and Reclamation 8
2.5 Mine History
The Schwartzwalder Mine operated from 1953 to 2000. The deposit was discovered by Fred
Schwartzwalder in 1949, and work progressed slowly on veins related to the Illinois Fault until 1953 when
exploration and mining assistance was received from the Federal government. Production and exploration
increased when Fred Schwartzwalder sold the mine to Denver-Golden Oil and Uranium Co. in 1956.
Several adits were driven along the Illinois Fault System, including the Steve Level adit, located about 50 ft
above creek level, and shaft sinking began in pursuit of deeper ore.
Cotter Corporation purchased the mine in 1966. The #1, #2, and #3 shafts were completed in 1958, 1970,
and 1976, respectively. An exhaust borehole to the surface was drilled northwest of the other shafts in
1977. A water treatment plant was constructed in 1987. A spiral decline was developed from the 19 Level
to the 22 Level during the 1988-1996 period.
Dewatering of the spiral decline ceased in September 1998, when the pumps were shut off at the bottom of
the decline (approximately 2,200 feet), and the lower workings of the mine were allowed to refill to the 19
Level. Mining operations continued until May 2000, when the pumps were shut off on the 19 Level and 7
Level, and the mine was allowed to flood.
2.6 Mine Layout
The mine was accessed through the Steve Level, which occurs at approximately 6,602 feet elevation in
North American Datum [NAD] 27 coordinates or 6,550 feet elevation in mine coordinates'. Two portals
exist on the Steve Level, which provided for normal mine access (the Steve Portal) and emergency egress
(the Pierce Adit).
Several older workings were developed above the Steve Level. The Charlie and Minnesota levels, which
are 119 and 226 feet above the Steve Level, respectively, intercept the CV glory hole and represent the bulk
of the upper workings (Figure 5). Additionally, the Upper Level and LBJ Level daylight on the hillside.
The elevations of the upper levels are given in Table 3.
Table 3. Elevations of Upper Levels at the Schwartzwalder Mine
MINE NAD27
LEVEL =_ ELEVATION ' ELEVATION
U er .6,895_ -_-- 6,947 ._.._._
LBJ __
. 6,835.__._...__..~..
= __._.~ 6,887 ._._.._
Minnesota _.._._
.6,776._..._._._...._..:...
= .__.__.._.6,828.--...._._..
CV .._.._._._
._.6,739.--___._..~_...... __._.._.~~6:79..._._-~--~---
Charlie .._..__
= 6,669 6,721
Steve 6,550 6,602
Below the Steve Level, the levels are identified according their depth (in hundreds of feet). The most
extensive workings are on the 19 Level, with significant development on the 7, 9, and 15 through 17 levels.
The total mine depth is 2,222 feet from the Steve Level portal to the bottom of the spiral decline
The mine was well-ventilated through a series of vent shafts. The main vent shaft extends from the top of
the hillside, at an elevation of 7,294 (NAD 27) to the 7 Level. The Jeffrey vent shaft extends from the
~ The difference between mine coordinates and State Plane (NAD 27) is + 2,056,570.73 E, +727,267.71 N, and +51.23 in elevation.
Whetstone Associates
4109B.071116