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Reclamation Feasibility Report - Virginia Canyon <br /> <br />LONG. W1050 31'26.2". The estimated volume of waste rock at site #24 is 1,800 cubic yards. A <br />larger waste rock pile shown as site #163 on Figure 4 is also associated with the Crystal mine. The <br />waste pile at site #163 is estimated to contain 600 cubic yards. <br />Historic Structures <br />The remains of the shafthouse are on waste pile #24. A concrete foundation rests on pile #23. <br />There is scattered debris throughout this site, <br />Water Quality Impacts <br />Water quality impacts from this site are the result of waste rock erosion and mine drainage. The <br />waste rock pile at site #24 is located in a small ephemeral drainage. Gullies about one-foot in depth <br />have been eroded in the pile. The waste rock pile at site #23 is highly eroded by road drainage. A <br />portion of the road drainage crosses the road and flows down the waste pile. Most of the eroded <br />waste from site #23 flows down the road ditch into Virginia Canyon. <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 not particularly high in soluble heavy metals compared to other piles in <br />Virginia Canyon, but erosion of the waste into Virginia Canyon subjects the eroded material to <br />frequent leaching. Results from the 2:1 leachate analysis are given below: <br />Site #23 <br />pH <br />S. U. Total Acidity <br />I /I As <br />b Cd <br />b Cu <br />b Fe <br />b Mn <br />b Pb <br />b Zn <br />b <br />3.01 376 BDL 240 2400 5300 BDL 25000 48000 <br />Site #24 <br />pH <br />S. U. Total Acidity <br />m /I As <br />b Cd <br />b Cu <br />b Fe <br />b Mn <br />b Pb <br />b Zn <br />b <br />2.95 574 BDL 350 3000 6200 240 39000 53000 <br />In addition to the waste rock, there is drainage from the adit or stope at station 'DM-4. Most if not all <br />of this mine drainage is due to road drainage that flows into a stope under the upper road. Following <br />thunderstorms, the amount of mine drainage from station DM-4 had been observed to increase. It is <br />believed that the mine drainage actually emits from a collapsed or filled stope. This stope is also <br />believed to extend under the lower road into the stream channel. During the winter there is <br />considerable ice buildup where the stope would cross the stream channel. <br />42