Cindi Godsey Permit Writer and Alaska Mining Coordinator US EPA Region 10 Patty McGrath Permitting Manager Donlin Gold LLC Lorraine Edmond Hydrogeologist US EPA Region 10 Mining Information Session ID: 1033876
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1. NEPA & Mining 101May 12, 2016Cindi Godsey, Permit Writer and Alaska Mining Coordinator, US EPA Region 10Patty McGrath, Permitting Manager, Donlin Gold LLCLorraine Edmond, Hydrogeologist, US EPA Region 10
2. Mining Information SessionModule 1: Mining FundamentalsModule 2: Environmental Concerns & Issues (May 24th at 1 – 3 pm EDT)Module 3: Regulatory Process & How Tribes can Engage (June 8th at 1 – 3 pm EDT)2
3. Module 1 Mining in the U.S. Mining Development Process Mining Fundamentals Exploration Types of mining Types of mineral processing Mining waste products3
4. US ranked 4th globally in gold production (2014)4Mining Overview: Gold
5. U.S. Mining Overview: GoldLarge gold mines found in NV, CO, AK, UT, SD, CANew mine under construction in SC New copper/gold mine potential in AK, ID, MT, MN, WICopper and gold mines = >70% of large U.S. facilities 5
6. Mining Overview: CopperUS ranked 6th globally in copper production (2014)6
7. U.S. Mining Overview: CopperTop copper producing states include AZ, NM, UT, NV, MTNew copper/gold mine potential in AK, ID, MT, MN, WI Used mainly in construction (43%) and electric equipment (19%)Copper and gold mines = >70% of U.S. mines7
8. Commodity Prices8Commodity prices have a direct effect on exploration expenditures
9. Mining Overview: SilverUS ranked 9th globally in silver production (2014)9
10. U.S. Mining Overview: SilverSilver produced from mines in AK, AZ, UT, NV and othersThe majority of silver mining in the US is a byproduct of copper, zinc/lead and gold miningCurrent uses of silver include industry electronics and energy (e.g., cell phones or solar panels)10
11. Uranium Deposits11
12. US Uranium ProductionUS ranked 9th globally in uranium production (2014)U.S. uranium mines produced 3.3 million pounds of U3O8 in 2015 (DOE EIA)Production came from one uranium mill in Utah, and in-situ leach operations in Wyoming, Texas and Nebraska.This production accounts for 9% of the uranium consumed by US nuclear power plants. The remainder is imported.US uranium reserve estimates are strongly sensitive to price. 12
13. Other U.S. Metals MiningLead mining: MO and AKZinc mining: TN and AKPhosphate mining: FL and ID Iron ore mining: MN and MI Molybdenum mining: AZ, CO, ID 13
14. Active Metals Mines14
15. Coal Deposits15
16. Major Steps in Mine DevelopmentProspecting: geological data and map reviews, non- invasive explorationStaking: establish mining rights Exploration (includes drilling, geophysics, bulk sampling)16
17. Cont. Major Steps in Mine Development Assessment of mineral potential and economic feasibilityMine development planning, environmental review and permitting process Mine development (construction)17
18. Cont. Major Steps in Mine Development Mine operationsShutdown and reclamation Long-term monitoring and site maintenance 18
19. Typical Timeframe for a Successful Mine ProjectInitial ExplorationAdvancedExplorationEnvironmental StudiesPre-feasibilityStudiesFeasibilityStudiesNEPA & PermittingFinancingConstruction123456789101112YEARS
20. Mineral Prospecting& Exploration
21. Mining
22. Lands Open/Closed to MiningOpen lands: all federal lands not specifically withdrawn from entry under the Mining Law, including national forestsClosed lands:Bureau of Reclamation landsConservation AreasNational Monuments and National Parks, National Wildlife RefugesWild & Scenic Rivers within quarter-mile of bankStates laws are generally similar to federal laws22
23. State & Federal Mining Claims Laws and regulations: 1872 Mining Law + State-specific laws Federal mining claims require a “discovery” of a “valuable deposit” Claims are “self-initiated” and staked a claim is the right to explore for and extract minerals from a tract of landLocatable minerals are claimedPlatinum, gold, silver, copper lead, zinc, uranium…Leasable minerals are leased through biddingPetroleum, coal, phosphate, sodium, potassium…23
24. State & Federal Mining ClaimsClaims are held through rental fees and assessment work: Claims on federal land: file notice with BLM; $135/year per claim (20-160 acres) Claims on state land: state laws varyRoyalties during production:Federal: none requiredState: laws vary from none up to 10% of net income/year from mining 24
25. Patents Convert federal land to private land There is currently a moratorium on new patenting, but patented claims are common in older mining districts, often as “in-holdings” surrounded by federal land25
26. Geologic mappingRock, sediment and soil geochemical samplingClaim stakingGeophysical surveys (air & ground)TrenchingCore or rotary drillingBulk samplingResource estimationExploration Activities26Early StageMid-StageAdvanced Stage
27. Exploration is activity spent searching for mineral depositsActivities generally have little ground disturbanceMore expensive with continued successPermits required for ground-disturbing activities such as road building, trenching27
28. Types of Permits for Exploration Federal PermitsClean Water Act 404 general permit or Individual for wetlands disturbanceOn federal land: approval by USFS and/or BLM State PermitsVary by stateTypically a land use permitTemporary water use permit28
29. Sediment Sampling
30. Airborne Geophysics30
31. Soil Sampling to Explore for Gold3131
32. Core Drilling32
33. What Is a Mine?Location where rocks containing valuable minerals (ore) are extracted from the groundRates: 100s – 100,000s of tons/dayTypes of mining:open pitundergroundstrip miningplacer mining (gold)33
34. Open Pit Mining34Ore accessed from the surfaceBlastingHaul to crusher/millStarting clockwise from top right, images from agnormark, sashagrunge, supapornss used with permission of Adobe Stock in this publication and future work product generated by Skeo for EPA.
35. Open Pit Mine35Fort Knox Mine, AK
36. Underground MiningOre accessed by adit, shaft and tunnel36
37. Underground Mine37Greens Creek Mine, AK
38. Strip Mining38Topsoil Replaced/RevegetationRegradeBackfillingActive PitCoalSeamsOver and Inter BurdenRegraded AreaTopsoilPre-stripping/Topsoil removalDirection ofMiningSpoilsTwo Bull Ridge Usibelli Coal MineHealy AlaskaReclamationActive MiningPre-MiningUsibelli Coal, AK
39. Strip Mining39Southeast Idaho Phosphate Mines
40. Gold Placer Mining 40Alaska Mechanical DredgeOregon Suction Dredge
41. Mineral Processing
42. What Is Mineral Processing?Production of valuable metal from mined ore42
43. Mineral ProcessingValuable mineral(s) separated from waste minerals43
44. Mineral Processing StepsParticle size reductionCrushing & grindingConcentrating the valuable metalGravity separationFlotationLeachingOthersPurifying the valuable metalSmeltingRefining Others44Ore containing 2% cooper as chalcopyrite (copper-iron-sulfide mineral)Flotation concentrate containing 30% copper as chalcopyriteSmelting & refining to produce pure (99.9%) copper
45. Crushing & GrindingReduce particle size to expose the target minerals.Water is added during the grinding stage45Image from Onur Hazar Altindag used with permission of Adobe Stock in this publication and future work product generated by Skeo for EPA. Video from Nimito used with permission of Adobe Stock in this publication and future work product generated by Skeo for EPA.
46. FlotationCommonly used for many mineralsChemicals added to ground ore cause mineral particles to stick to air bubbles, create a froth, and “depress” waste mineralsExamples: organic compounds (xanthates), cyanide, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, oils, alcohols, lime, acids46
47. Flotation47Cross Section of a Flotation Cell
48. LeachingCan be used on ore or flotation concentrates Chemical added to dissolve the valuable metalExamples:cyanide is used to dissolve gold and silver from oresacid is used to dissolve copper and uranium from ores48
49. Vat & Tank Leaching49Image from Vividrange used with permission of Adobe Stock in this publication and future work product generated by Skeo for EPA.
50. Heap Leaching50
51. Separation of Metal fromLeach SolutionCarbon Adsorption: gold adsorbs onto carbonElectrowinning: uses steel wool or copper as a cathode to extract the metal in acid or base solutionPrecipitation: solutioncombined with chemicals to form metal precipitate51
52. Purification and Production of Metal52Smelting and RefiningStarting clockwise from top left, images from Oleksiy Mark, nasimi, icarmen13 used with permission of Adobe Stock in this publication and future work product generated by Skeo for EPA.
53. Example of Gold Processing53
54. Example of Gold Processing54
55. Mineral Processing5555Red Dog Mine, AKBingham Canyon Mine, UT
56. Questions and Comments56Next Webinars on NEPA and Mining 101: May 24th Part 2- Mining Environmental Concerns and Issues June 8thPart 3- The Regulatory Process and How Tribes can Engage
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