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A <br />Mr. Thomas M. Robertson 6 June 17, 1981 <br />from the north or pond side of the east -west trending ravine and both <br />sides of the north -south trending ravine. There is also seepage on the <br />flatter ground surface immediately upstream from the ravines. There is a <br />small "pipe" located on the north side of one ravine (sample point no. <br />12) which is flowing at a rate of approximately 4 gpm, indicating rela- <br />tively high seepage pressures in this area. <br />(' The piezometric map in Figure 4 is based on piezometric readings from <br />IL both the rock and the soil (see table in figure for location of screened <br />interval in piezometers and wells.) The piezometers downstream of the <br />dam (sampling point 15S and 15N) indicate a higher pressure in the top of <br />rock as compared to the overlying soil. This indicates that water is <br />seeping upward through the rock and into the soil, and there are signi- <br />ficant uplift pressures within the east abutment. A similar flow condi- <br />tion is found at the toe of the dam, where pressures in the rock are <br />higher than those in the soil (see sample point No. 3 and No. 16). These <br />two conditions indicate that the rock is providing a significant path for <br />seepage in the downstream toe area. It is also noted that the piezometric <br />head of the piezometers at the toe of the dam is the same as that measured <br />in Wells 6 and 7, which are further downstream and to the east. The fact <br />that there is no pressure gradient between these wells may indicate that <br />the major flow path is not along the stream channel, but rather that the <br />major flow paths are through the abutments, primarily the east abutment. <br />Along the crest of the dam, there is only one piezometer, which is sealed <br />in the rock. Thus, there is no information about pressures in the <br />natural soil and in the dam fill along the dam crest. Since the pressures <br />within the natural soil and the dam fill may be different than those in <br />the rock, piezometric information along the crest is very limited, and <br />the piezometric contours which are drawn on Figure 4 in the area may not <br />be representative of the general flow conditions under the dam. <br />The flow paths as shown in Figure 4 can be delineated only in a general <br />sense from the piezometric surface contours and observed exit flow <br />conditions. The piezometric pressures indicate that flow is occurring <br />beneath the entire length of the dam, although the relative quantities of <br />flow at different locations are not known. Exit conditions and the trend <br />toward higher pressures to the east at the toe of the dam indicate the <br />potential of greater flows beneath the east abutment. <br />2.4 WATER QUALITY ANALYSIS <br />Water quality can often be used as an effective tracer in assessing the <br />source of seepage as well as help delineate the paths of seepage. Water <br />was sampled in the tailings pond and at 12 points downstream of the Lower <br />Tailings Dam during the period of March 9, 1981 to May 11, 1981. <br />The parameters measured were temperature, pH, total copper, total <br />zinc and free cyanide. Figure 5 shows the average pH and free cyanide <br />concentrations monitored over the two month period. These two parameters <br />are the best indicators for identifying seepage from the pond. <br />