1984-04-28_REPORT - M1977378 - Laserfiche WebLink

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STANDARD METALS CORPORATION SILVERTON OPERATION RECLAMATION PLAN ANNUAL REPORT 1983 Introduction - Standard Metals Corporation operates base and precious metals ore extraction and beneficiation facilities in San Juan County, Colorado, near Silverton. Total acreage affected by mine and milling operations at the Silverton site is currently list- ed at 140 acres as stipulated in the mining permit (No. 7 7-378) issued by the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Mined Land Reclamation Division. The Sunnyside Mine is an underground hardrock operation in which shrink stope techniques are employed for extraction of target- ed ores, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, and native gold and silver. Due to the nature of the mining technique used at the operation the amount of waste rock produced for disposal is limited, consequently surface acreage disturbed by mining activities is minimal , totalling 11.0 acres. Affected acreage is limited to the American Tunnel portal site approximately 7.0 miles north of Silverton, and consists of mine support structures, equipment storage yards, a waste dump, and a mine drainage treatment installation. Upon removal from the mine the ore is transported to the May- flower Mill facility where complex physio-chemical processes are em- ployed for extraction and concentration of desired mineral content in the mine ore. Major products produced at the mill are concentrates of lead and zinc, and a gold-silver amalgam. These products are shipped off site for further processing to achieve merchantable products. The mill operation is responsible for the majority of dis- turbed land at the Silverton site and consists of active and inactive tailings deposition sites, mill facilities, mill equipment storage yards, and borrow areas totalling 129 acres at present. Approximately 40% of the affected lands at the mill site attained maximum disturbance prior to Standard Metals Corporation activities in the area. The mill facility employed by Standard Metals Corporation began production in 1930 under a different operator and was idled in the early 1950s. The total acreage affected at the Silverton site by mine and mill operations is currently 140 acres. The affected acreages have been segregated into major, moderate and minor disturbance categories, based on the extent of activity which has occurred, and the intensity of reclamation efforts required to achieve revegetation goals. The major disturbance category consists of lands in which top- soils and subsoils have been removed or displaced and are incapable of supporting vegetative growth without intensive reclamation efforts (phase I-IV of the Reclamation Plan). This disturbance category is comprised of inactive and active mill tailings deposition sites , mine portal structures and the mill structure site totalling 96.0 acres. When the active mill tailings deposition site attains maximum anti- cipated disturbance, an additional 19.5 acres will be included in the major disturbance category.