Laserfiche WebLink
• extensive underground mining within the mine plan and adjacent areas and <br />most of the abandoned underground workings have gradually flooded. <br />Although there is no specific supporting documentation, the source of <br />groundwater inflows to abandoned mines is assumed to be slow, horizontal <br />seepage from the effected units, surface flows intercepted by mine <br />openings which have not been sealed, and limited vertical seepage <br />resulting from infiltration through subsidence fractures. <br />Within the mine area, flooded underground mine workings generally <br />represent the most significant source and storage reservoirs for <br />groundwater. This statement is borne out by the relatively widespread <br />practice in this area of tapping into abandoned mine workings with <br />groundwater supply wells. However, it should be noted that in the mine <br />and adjacent areas there are only two (2) wells, the Corley Mine Well, <br />and the Thompson Ranch Well, which have been completed within abandoned <br />mine workings. <br />• Generally, groundwater in the mine and adjacent areas flows from outcrop <br />or subcrop recharge areas to the west toward the axis of the Chandler <br />Syncline to the south and west. Recharge mechanisms include infiltration <br />from direct precipitation along the outcrop/subcrop zones, and <br />infiltration of surface water where area drainages cross these same <br />outcrop/subcrop zones. Additional recharge may also occur along the Wet <br />Mountain Fault to the west and at the margins of adjacent upturned <br />sedimentary units. <br />Generally, groundwater resources in the mine area may be characterized as <br />being of fair to good quality with relatively high levels of dissolved <br />solids, sulfates and iron. These characteristics limit effective use of <br />groundwater resources to stock watering applications and limited domestic <br />use. <br />Surface and Groundwater Rights. The only surface and groundwater rights <br />within permit and adjacent areas are the City of Florence diversion rights <br />. for upstream diversion of Newlin Creek and the Corley and Thompson Wells <br />in the mine area. <br />2.05.6-13 <br />