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The La Grange Mine Site Historical Lesson Plan Grade 7
Teaching About Historic Places Lesson Plan Grade 7 The La Grange Mine: Changing the Landscape in the Quest for Gold Located on the slopes of the Trinity Mountains, the La Grange Mine serves as a silent reminder of what people will do in their quest for gold. Today, all that remains of this mine are some discarded things left by the miners. Only the scars on the land and the isolated items left behind can tell us the story of this once-great mine. The La Grange Mine story began in the late 1860s. It was during this time that the mountains west of Weaverville in Trinity County became a center for hydraulic gold mining. The gold found in this area was in such low amounts that special methods were needed to remove it from the ground. The method used was known as hydraulic mining. It involved washing the dirt with large amounts of water. In order to make sure that there was enough water for hydraulic mining to take place, in 1873 a group of local miners got together to form the Weaverville Ditch and Hydraulic Mining Company. This company was bought by Baron Ernest de La Grange for $250,000. Between 1893 and (Top photo shows La Grange Mine circa 1930s; Bottom photo shows the La Grange workers with gold 1915, the La Grange Mine became bars recovered from mine - California Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology Library, and Trinity County Historical Society Archives Photos.) the largest hydraulic mine in California. By the early 20th the La Grange Mine produced $3,500,000 worth of gold. -
Underground Hard-Rock Mining: Subsidence and Hydrologic Environmental Impacts
Technical Report on Underground Hard-Rock Mining: Subsidence and Hydrologic Environmental Impacts By Steve Blodgett, M.S. and James R. Kuipers, P.E. Center for Science in Public Participation Bozeman, MT February 2002 Abstract: Subsidence and hydrology impacts occur at every underground mining operation bringing about changes to surface landforms, ground water and surface water. Although the same impacts to mining operations, man-made surface structures and other features are relatively well known and studied, the environmental impacts related to subsidence and hydrology at underground mines are not well known and have not been extensively described. This report examines the occurrence and environmental impacts of subsidence and effects on hydrology at underground hard-rock metal mines in the U.S. and abroad. Technical and scientific literature is cited on the cause and effect of underground mining on surface landforms and water resources. Existing laws and recommended regulatory provisions to address these impacts are discussed. Conclusions about subsidence and hydrologic impacts at underground hard-rock metal mines are provided along with recommendations for addressing those impacts. Case studies are provided from copper, molybdenum, silver and other hard-rock mines where significant subsidence and hydrology-related environmental impacts have occurred. The Center for Science in Public Participation (CSP2) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing professional technical assistance to public interest groups; state, tribal and federal governments; and industry. This report has been published with financial support from various foundations and individuals, and from the Mineral Policy Center and Amigos Bravos. The opinions contained in this study are those of the authors and are based solely upon their own scientific and technical knowledge and expertise. -
Mining's Toxic Legacy
Mining’s Toxic Legacy An Initiative to Address Mining Toxins in the Sierra Nevada Acknowledgements _____________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Sierra Fund would like to thank Dr. Carrie Monohan, contributing author of this report, and Kyle Leach, lead technical advisor. Thanks as well to Dr. William M. Murphy, Dr. Dave Brown, and Professor Becky Damazo, RN, of California State University, Chico for their research into the human and environmental impacts of mining toxins, and to the graduate students who assisted them: Lowren C. McAmis and Melinda Montano, Gina Grayson, James Guichard, and Yvette Irons. Thanks to Malaika Bishop and Roberto Garcia for their hard work to engage community partners in this effort, and Terry Lowe and Anna Reynolds Trabucco for their editorial expertise. For production of this report we recognize Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin of The Sierra Fund for conceiving of and coordinating the overall Initiative and writing substantial portions of the document, Kerry Morse for editing, and Emily Rivenes for design and formatting. Many others were vital to the development of the report, especially the members of our Gold Ribbon Panel and our Government Science and Policy Advisors. We also thank the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment and The Abandoned Mine Alliance who provided funding to pay for a portion of the expenses in printing this report. Special thanks to Rebecca Solnit, whose article “Winged Mercury and -
CORONAQUARRY Surface Mining Permit & Revised Reclamation Plan
CORONAQUARRY Surface Mining Permit & Revised Reclamation Plan City of Corona Permit No. 93-01 State of California Mine ID No. 91-33-0027 Prepared for: 500 North Brand Avenue, Suite 500 Glendale, CA 91203 Prepared by: RGP Planning & Development Services 8921 Research Drive Irvine, CA 92618 Submi ed to: City of Corona Community Development Department 400 South Vicen a Avenue Corona, CA 92882 March 2013 CORONA QUARRY Surface Mining Permit & Revised Reclamation Plan City of Corona Permit 93-01 State of California Mine ID No. 91-33-0027 Prepared For: Vulcan Materials Company, West Region 500 North Brand Avenue, Suite 500 Glendale, CA 91203 (818) 553-8800 Prepared By: RGP Planning & Development Services 8921 Research Drive Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 450-0171 Submitted To: City of Corona Community Development Department 400 S. Vicentia Ave. Corona, CA 92882 (951) 736-2262 March 2013 Table of Contents 1.0 General Project Information ......................................................................................... 6 1.1 Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................ 6 1.2 Entitlement History ............................................................................................................ 6 1.3 Objectives of Amended Project ......................................................................................... 10 1.4 PCC-Quality Aggregate Regional Needs Assessment ............................................................ 11 1.5 Comparison of 1989 -
Backfilling of Open-Pit Metallic Mines1
BACKFILLING OF OPEN-PIT METALLIC MINES1 Stephen M. Testa,2 and James S. Pompy Abstract: Thirty years ago, the Congress of the United States required that coal mines be backfilled as a routine element of reclamation when it passed the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Until recently, that concept has not been generally applied to non-coal surface mines. In 2003, California’s State Mining and Geology Board (Board) evaluated reclamation of open pit metallic mines in the state and determined that they were not being reclaimed, despite California’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA). As a result, the Board issued regulations for the backfilling of open-pit metallic mines. The need for such regulation reflected several issues. Open-pit metallic mineral mines often create very large excavations. In addition, metallic mineral mines that employ the cyanide heap leach method for mineral segregation and collection frequently generate very large leach piles which create long term soil and groundwater contamination conditions. It is the intent of SMARA that completed mine sites present no additional dangers to the public health and safety, and that the mined lands are returned to an alternate, useful condition. To date, no large, open pit metallic mines in California have been returned to the conditions contemplated by SMARA, and these sites continue to pose significant environmental problems. The goal of the Board’s regulations was to require mining companies to address the problems identified above and to take responsibility for cleaning up their mine sites after the completion of surface mining operations, and return them to a condition that allows alternative uses and avoids environmental harms, thereby meeting the purpose and intent of SMARA. -
Pike Law Geology Report by Colin Fowler
Geology of the Pike Law area. The Pike law mine site lies astride the Newbiggin to Westgate road, bounded on the east by Flushiemere beck and on the west by Westerbeck, with Broadley Hill at the NE corner being the highest point at 530m. Dunham describes the area: “The outcrop of the beds between the base of the Great Limestone and the Firestone on Pike Law, between Wester Beck and Flushiemere Beck, is traversed by a remarkable complex of veins.” (PP 243) Details of the geology have been given by Dunham, (1948 &1990); Bridges and Young, (2007); Bevins et al, (2010). Geological Survey of England and Wales 1:63,360/1:50,000 geological map series, New Series, sheet 25, Alston. The area has been worked by shaft, adit and hush, with 3 named areas of hush to the East of the road, Leonard’s Hush; Pikelaw Hush and Flask Hushes. To the West of the road, West End Hushes. There are a complex of leats and old dams forming reservoirs on both sides of the road, though non of them seem to have been able to hold sufficient water to enable hydraulic flushing alone to have created the hushes that we see. It is most likely to have been quarried and the water used for washing the mineral. “The production of lead concentrates from 1852 to 1891, when all work ceased was only 1725 tons.” (Dunham) “Surface evidence suggests that the area had been heavily worked prior to 1852, and what is recorded is the last gleanings of an old mining field” (Fairburn, A 2009) The figure given in Dunham may be optimistic, J. -
93 Placer Tailings Are Features on the Historic-Period Mining Landscape
PAPERS ON HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY 93 GGGOLDOLDOLD IN THETHETHE TAILINGSAILINGSAILINGS MICHAEL DAVID NEWLAND Recent field research of post-Gold Rush placer-mining operations along the Feather River suggests that placer tailings, the cleaned and processed rock and sediment waste of placer-mining operations, can contain important information about mining technique and landscape reconstruction. In addition, careful reconstruction of mining events can tie early mining claims with their mining operations. Two placer-mining sites, Spring Valley Gulch, worked in the 1860s-1870s, and the McCabe Creek Complex, worked in 1853-1860, both studied as part of the Oroville Relicensing Project, will be used as illustrations. lacer tailings are features on the historic-period mining landscape These three questions can be addressed using two sites as case that are typically ignored or recorded minimally, because studies: the Spring Valley Gulch complex and the McCabe Creek Presearchers think that either there is no information potential complex. there, or such features are too complex to address during field study. Placer tailings are found throughout the gold country of the west, and indeed around the world. Tailings are the bi-product of mining: the TWO CASE STUDIES: SPRING VALLEY GULCH AND MCCABE CREEK scraped, washed, or otherwise processed boulders, cobbles, and finer sediments left as a end result of mining; this paper focuses only on Spring Valley Gulch (CA-BUT-1872/H) placer mining and not on other forms of gold extraction. Spring Valley Gulch is filled with mining sites dating to the A lot has been said about tailings over the past two decades, and 1860s-1870s. -
Surface Mining Methods and Equipment - J
CIVIL ENGINEERING – Vol. II - Surface Mining Methods and Equipment - J. Yamatomi and S. Okubo SURFACE MINING METHODS AND EQUIPMENT J. Yamatomi and S. Okubo University of Tokyo, Japan Keywords: Mining method, surface mining, open pit mining, open cast mining, placer mining, solution mining, leaching, stripping ratio, mining machinery, excavation, cutting, grading, loading, ditching Contents 1. Surface Mining Methods 1.1.Classification of Surface Mining Methods 1.2. Open Pit vs. Underground Mining Methods 1.3. Open Pit Mining 1.4. Open Cast Mining 1.5. Placer Mining 1.6 Solution Mining 2. Surface Mining Machinery Glossary Bibliography Biographical Sketches Summary This chapter deals with surface mining. Section 1 presents an overview of surface mining methods and practices as commonly employed in modern surface mining operations. The description includes a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of surface and underground mining as well as brief explanations of open pit, open cast, placer, and solution mining operations. Section 2 describes surface mining equipment with particular focus on relatively large machines such as bucket wheel excavators, large shovels and draglines. 1. Surface Mining Methods UNESCO – EOLSS After a mineral deposit has been discovered, delineated, and evaluated, the most appropriate mining method is selected based on technical, economic, and environmentally accountable considerations. The first step in selecting the most appropriate miningSAMPLE method is to compare the CHAPTERS economic efficiency of extraction of the deposit by surface and underground mining methods. This section reviews surface mining methods and practices. 1.1. Classification of Surface Mining Methods Extraction of mineral or energy resources by operations exclusively involving personnel working on the surface without provision of manned underground operations is referred to as surface mining. -
EPA's National Hardrock Mining Framework
EPA’s National Hardrock Mining Framework U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water (4203) 401 M Street, SW Washington, DC 20460 HARDROCK MINING FRAMEWORK September 1997 September 1997 HARDROCK MINING FRAMEWORK Table of Contents 1.0 Purpose and Organization of the Framework ...................................1 1.1 Purpose of the Hardrock Mining Framework ..............................1 1.2 Why Develop an EPA National Mining Framework Now? ....................1 1.2.1 Need For Program Integration ...................................1 1.2.2 The Environmental Impacts of Mining .............................1 1.3 Goals of EPA’s Mining Framework .....................................3 1.4 Guide to the Framework ..............................................3 2.0 Current Status ..........................................................3 2.1 Overview of Regulatory Framework for Mining ............................3 2.2 EPA Statutory Authority .............................................4 2.3 Partnerships .......................................................6 3.0 Improving How We Do Business ...........................................7 3.1 Key Considerations .................................................7 3.2 Recommendations ..................................................8 4.0 Implementation Actions .................................................10 4.1 Putting the Framework into Action .....................................10 4.2 Next Steps .......................................................11 5.0 Introduction to the Appendices -
Big Creek Mining Complex
Ah Heng Mining Complex A Malheur National Forest Virtual Tour Introduction: Types of Gold Mining Placer vs. Hard Rock (Quartz, Load) Mining There are several different ways to mine for gold. The following is a brief description of placer and hard rock mining. The remainder of this virtual tour focuses on the placer mining done by the Ah Heng Company at a leased mining claim near Big Creek. Placer Mining- using water to excavate, transport, and recover Hard Rock Mining- the underground excavation of lode deposits. A heavy minerals from alluvial deposits. These deposits consist of lode deposit is the original mineral occurrence within a fissure minerals that have eroded from their parent lode into a variety through native rock, also known as a vein or ledge. In order to access of natural contexts among the sedimentary formations. Placer these minerals, miners must excavate either a decline (ramp), vertical deposits are generally free from parent material and do not shaft, or an adit. These type of claims were a longer term investment require additional refinement when they are separated from because of the additional labor and equipment needed to extract the other sediments. and refine the ore and the need for transportation infrastructure to ship the refined ore to smelting facilities. Placer Mining 2. After gold was discovered through prospecting, more complex equipment and Technology techniques were employed to recover gold buried in the alluvial deposits Rocker – Long Toms a rocking box and Sluice which Boxes- allowed Trough-like recovery of 1. The first step in placer mining is boxes with gold with prospecting for rich gold deposits, usually water small flowing over with shovel, pick and . -
Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation Final Programmatic
Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation Final Programmatic Biological Opinion and Conference Opinion on the United States Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Title V Regulatory Program U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services Program Division of Environmental Review Falls Church, Virginia October 16, 2020 Table of Contents 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................3 2 Consultation History .........................................................................................................4 3 Background .......................................................................................................................5 4 Description of the Action ...................................................................................................7 The Mining Process .............................................................................................................. 8 4.1.1 Exploration ........................................................................................................................ 8 4.1.2 Erosion and Sedimentation Controls .................................................................................. 9 4.1.3 Clearing and Grubbing ....................................................................................................... 9 4.1.4 Excavation of Overburden and Coal ................................................................................ -
Mines of El Dorado County
by Doug Noble © 2002 Definitions Of Mining Terms:.........................................3 Burt Valley Mine............................................................13 Adams Gulch Mine........................................................4 Butler Pit........................................................................13 Agara Mine ...................................................................4 Calaveras Mine.............................................................13 Alabaster Cave Mine ....................................................4 Caledonia Mine..............................................................13 Alderson Mine...............................................................4 California-Bangor Slate Company Mine ........................13 Alhambra Mine..............................................................4 California Consolidated (Ibid, Tapioca) Mine.................13 Allen Dredge.................................................................5 California Jack Mine......................................................13 Alveoro Mine.................................................................5 California Slate Quarry .................................................14 Amelia Mine...................................................................5 Camelback (Voss) Mine................................................14 Argonaut Mine ..............................................................5 Carrie Hale Mine............................................................14 Badger Hill Mine