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Reclamation Feasibility Report - Virginia Canyon <br />Water Quality Impacts <br />• The principal water quality effect from this site is from erosion of the waste rock. The waste rock pile <br />is located directly in the stream channel near the headwaters of the mainstem of Virginia Canyon. <br />The presence of sulfate salts on the waste pile indicates that some leaching of the waste rock <br />occurs during snowmelt and following long duration, low intensity rainstorms. <br />The waste rock piles are highly cemented with metal sulfate salts. Upon wetting, these salts are <br />readily dissolved. During dry periods, water moves to the surface, precipitating metal salts on the <br />surface. The waste rock is high in copper. The waste rock had a very low pH and very high total <br />acidity. Results from the 2:1 leachate analysis are given below: <br />pH <br />s.u. <br />2.33 <br />-Ale fr'+ <br />Total Acidity <br />As <br />Cd <br />Cu <br />Fe <br />Mn <br />Pb <br />Zn <br />m l b b b b b b b <br />1820 660 78 6200 360000 400 4500 15000 <br />Reclamation Measures <br />Removal of the waste rock is the preferred reclamation alternative. However, the waste rock pile <br />may be considered a contributing historic resource to the area. If the waste rock pile cannot be <br />removed, it is recommended that the waste in the stream and the scattered waste to the south and <br />east be consolidated with the main part of the waste pile. Diversion ditches could then be <br />constructed to direct upland runoff around the pile, and a small catchment basin can be constructed <br />to intercept eroded material from the waste rock pile. <br />Trio Tunnel (Site #9) <br />• Location <br />This site is located approximately 2.6 miles up the mainstem of Virginia Canyon (Figures 3 and 8). <br />This mine waste pile was sampled as site #9. Site #9 is located at a curve in the road, where the <br />stream channel changes from the east side of the County road to the west side. Site #9 is located at <br />LAT. N39046'05.1", LONG. W105032'22.4". The estimated volume of waste rock at site #9 is <br />8,000 cubic yards. <br />Historic Structures <br />A sheet iron clad powder magazine is located west of the waste rock pile. There are no historic <br />structures other than scattered debris at the waste rock pile. <br />Water Quality Impacts <br />The principal water quality effect from this site is from erosion of the waste rock. The waste rock pile <br />is located directly in the historic stream channel. In fact, a stream channel has been excavated <br />through the waste pile to accommodate a culvert that directs the drainage from the east side of the <br />road into the historic channel on the west side of the road. There is probably some leaching of the <br />waste rock as ground water follows the flow path of the historic channel through the waste rock. <br />However, there were no visible indications of leaching at the site. <br /> <br />27 <br />