Laserfiche WebLink
• analytical results confirm the previous findings from Boring BM00-1 that the natural background <br />ground water entering the mine from the lower Brushy Basin unit is of poor quality. <br />Analysis of water samples collected in the lower Whirlwind sump or pool, which is within the Salt <br />Wash unit, show that the sump water has the same water quality as the water seeping into the mine <br />from the decline above. Piper Plots of the decline water and the Whirlwind Pool, as shown on Figure <br />G6, are similar in water quality chemistry to the two water samples collected from Boring BM00-1 in <br />the lower Brushy Basin Sandstone. <br />Energy Fuels' inspections of those areas of the Packrat Mine that are currently accessible have <br />encountered standing water (typically boot high) in some portions of the drifts. One open exploration <br />drill hole was also observed that was producing about 1 gpm of water. Historically, drillers were not <br />required to plug their exploration holes and these holes can provide an open conduit for ground water <br />flow. Based on historic data, there are probably hundreds of open drill holes on Beaver Mesa that were <br />drilled from the late 1940s through the 1970s by uranium companies and federal agencies. It is also <br />• known that the 10-Straight Shaft in the older portion of the Packrat Mine is delivering some water <br />from either Burro Canyon or Brushy Basin (or both) into the mine. This area of the mine is currently <br />not accessible but water can be heard cascading in the shaft from the surface above. Umetco maps <br />from the early 1990s indicate that approximately 3 gpm was flowing into the mine from this shaft. <br />Energy Fuels collected samples of standing water in the Packrat Mine in October 2006 and January <br />and Apri12007. This water has the same major ion profile as the Whirlwind sump water and the lower <br />Brushy Basin water; however, the levels of uranium, vanadium, radium, arsenic, and selenium are <br />substantially higher in the Packrat water as shown in Table E-2. These increases in concentration and <br />activity levels are attributable to the water being in contact with the uranium-bearing sandstone for a <br />considerable period of time. Similar water quality will probably exist during mining operations <br />because the mine water will be used for drilling operations in the ore zone. <br />r~ <br />Whirlwind Mine 07 (rev. April 08) G-16 <br />