Laserfiche WebLink
Summary of Quarterly Hydrological Monitoring <br />Monitoring Activities <br />The following field monitoring and sampling activities were performed during the <br />Second Quarter 2010 (April through June 2010): <br />• April 21, 2010 - The water in the Whirlwind Mine Decline was measured for <br />field parameters and water level and sampled for key treatment parameters. <br />• May 27, 2010 - The water level in the Whirlwind Mine Decline was measured. <br />• June 2, 2010 - DP Spring and PR Spring were measured for flow rate and field <br />parameters and PR Spring was sampled for lab analysis. <br />• June 7, 2010 - Monitoring Well W-1 was measured for field parameters and <br />sampled and a seep survey was conducted. <br />• June 24, 2010 - The water level in the Whirlwind Mine Decline was measured. <br />• June 30, 2010 - Low flow observed at the Thornton Portal was sampled for lab <br />analysis. <br />Whirlwind Treatment Plant <br />While the treatment plant is in operation, mine water from the Whirlwind Mine is <br />pumped to the surface, stored in the untreated water tank, treated and discharged to the <br />middle tributary of Lumsden Creek. Discharge of treated water from the Whirlwind <br />Mine is allowed in accordance with Colorado Discharge Permit System (CDPS) permit <br />number CO-0047562. Following the December 2009 batch treatment of mine water, <br />collection of mine water for treatment was suspended at the Whirlwind Mine. Since then, <br />mine water has been allowed to accumulate in the mine workings. Refer to Section 1 of <br />the Hydrological Report for a summary of the mine water treatment. <br />Whirlwind Mine and Packrat Mine <br />The inflow within the Whirlwind Mine decline cannot be measured directly because it <br />occurs over approximately 100 feet of the decline and within the drifts and collects in the <br />mine sump and is subsequently pumped into the untreated water tank on the surface. <br />Prior to 2010, the Whirlwind Mine inflow was estimated based on the volume of water <br />treated and estimations of the volume of water evaporated off the untreated water tank <br />and brought out of the mine in ventilated air. Because the mine water is not currently <br />being removed from the mine workings, that methodology cannot be used. Currently <br />inflow is calculated based on the approximate elevation level of accumulated mine water, <br />which is checked on a monthly basis, and the void volume of the workings. Field <br />parameters were measured and a sample was taken for key treatment parameters <br />(selenium, radium-226 and radium-228) in the Second Quarter 2010. The flow rate, field <br />parameters and analytical constituents are consistent with historical records. <br />The flow rate and field parameters from the Whirlwind Mine water are included in <br />Section 2 of the Hydrological Report. Analytical data from samples collected from the <br />Whirlwind Mine are summarized in Table 1. The analytical data report for the collected <br />sample is included in Appendix A.