2008-11-21_REVISION - M1978222UG (21)

Home Browse Search

EXHIBIT D - MINING PLAN 1. Background Information Monogram Mesa and the Monogram Permit Area in particular are areas with a long history of uranium mining. The host rock is the Morrison Formation, Salt Wash member and is present at the surface with several probable faults and old uranium workings exposing uranium bearing sandstones. Appendix A is a Generalized Radiometric Survey of the Monogram Mine Permit Area which documents the exposure of uranium bearing rocks at the surface throughout the area. The aerial photographic map shows the extent of roads, trails and old workings and mines in the area. The appendix also includes photographs of many of the recorded sites, showing the limited soil and vegetation of the permit area. The ore deposit at the Monogram Mine is a knob-like surface outcrop of uranium and vanadium ore located at the site formerly known as the "Monogram Pit". The ore is in reduced parts of the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation which is of fluvial origin with interbedded sandstones and mudstones. These rocks were deposited with sandstone layers separated by silty mudstone beds which create up to five or six beds or "benches" of ore bearing sandstone. Ore grade mineralization is found in each of these benches and ranges from less than a foot to more than 12 feet thick in the area. The ore bodies are often in convoluted "rolls" and associated with higher concentrations of carbonaceous material. Early miners would sometimes selectively mine only fossilized logs creating very narrow tunnels as they removed high grade pitchblende from the outcrop. The "Monogram Pit" and small adits in the knob were mined in that manner. Nuvemco is the operator of the Monogram Mines 110(2) Permit Number M-1978-222-UG on patented claims including all of the Monogram patented claim and portions of the Green Back, Bob Tail, Happy Thought, Great Hesper and Buckhorn, comprising approximately 48.38 acres in Sections 17 and 18 of Township 46 North, Range 17 West, (NMPM). The mineral rights are controlled by Nuvemco through long-term lease agreements with the claim owners. Nuvemco also controls the patented and unpatented claims surrounding the proposed permit area except for a shared 150 ft section on the southeast edge of the patented MS20233 Monogram Claim. This edge of the permit boundary is adjacent to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management Lease Block 8A. Historically, miners in the area would locate outcropping uranium bearing deposits with Geiger or other scintillation counters and then mine the ore by driving adits from the sides of canyon walls in the nearly horizontal sandstone beds. Later exploration was aided by drilling vertical holes from the surface, or top of the mesa, mapping the radioactive ore bodies by drilling close spaced boreholes and directing the underground mining to the higher grade deposits. The historic activity is evidenced by roads and trails used by drillers and as haul roads for ore trucks and buggies from the numerous surface and underground mining operations. There is minimal soil and vegetation cover in the area of this proposed surface excavation. These roads or trails are readily seen in aerial photographs (see Map C-4) and will be utilized for continued exploration drilling of the Monogram Mine permit area thereby minimizing surface disturbance. Numerous historic adits are present in the permit area in addition to some reclaimed surface pits and portals. Appendix C tabulates historical mine production from the Monogram Mine area. Monogram Mine - November 2008 D-1