2012-05-10_PERMIT FILE - M2012023

Home Browse Search

MINING PLAN AND TIMETABLE 3 EXHIBIT D LOCATION The property is located in Las Animas County approximately 8.5 miles northwest of Trinidad, Colorado. It will be a single stage mining operation located on 21.00 ac. ± east of Reilly Creek on a ridge between Mulligan and Phelps Creeks. Access is via SHW 12 west of Trinidad, 7.25 miles to CR 57.7, then north 4.3 miles to a private road that leads to the mine. Follow the private road east for approximately 3000 feet to the mine site. Please refer to EXHIBIT B -INDEX MAP for the property configuration and the relationships to surrounding geological features. The area to be mined is an east /west trending ridge line of igneous rock lying between 6900 on the west to 7035 feet at the highest point. It lies in an isolated area surrounded by ranch land and limited rural ranchetts, the closest being more than three - fourths of a mile from the mine area. CURRENT CONDITIONS The site has been used as rangeland and a firewood harvest- ing site by the owners. The predominate vegetation is grass and sparse Pinon /Juniper trees and brush cover. The pine trees have been cut to provide firewood for the surrounding market area. Two old mines are located on the site, the western one was mined many years ago and the rock may have been used during construc- tion on County Road 57.7 or an old railroad that followed Reilly Creek. The eastern one has been used by the landowners to supply road material and to armor road crossings on the numerous draws on their land. The PRE - MINING MAP - EXHIBIT C shows how the area looks at this time, the site has recently been logged for firewood but there is a moderate grass cover. The ridgeline peaks on the property at approximately 7035 and slopes from this point down to the cap rock or sill that is to be mined. The material in the upper parts of the hill have not been analyzed and at this time is classified as overburden. The existing access road crosses the ridge on the east end. The minable deposit is a hard igneous rock that will be have to be drilled and blasted to be mined. The rock layer tapers from 0 to 35 feet thick, averaging 25 feet thick. Where it is visible in the old mine, the rock wall is a vertical face nearly 35 feet high. The overburden is from 0 to 40 feet deep, while topsoil is from 0 to 6 inches thick, averag- ing 4 inches.