Site Narrative
This mine was active from 1910 up to the 1950´s and consisted of several shallow open cuts and 100 feet of subsurface workings. Historic photographs of the mine in operation, indicated several structures were present which may have housed the miners. However, very little evidence of these structures remained just prior to the site clean up. The retort structures were removed. One small rockcrusher, generator, ore hopper and grizzly were the only mining artifacts left
The calcines were dumped into the steep ravine and, over time, a substantial portion of the wastes were washed downstream. The remediation plan called for the excavation and entombment of 3,000 cubic yards of calcines and other mining debris.
Reclamation/Recommendations
In 2001 the calcines were removed from the riparian and adjacent zones to an unused mining haul road located on the western side of the mill site. The retort wastes were capped with two-three feet of native (non-mercury ore) soil, seeded with the native plants and then covered with the weed-free rice straw. The excavated calcine pit was recontoured with native soil, reseeded with the same native plants and five rows of rice bales were staked along slope contours to reduce stormwater runoff. A sampling program is planned for 2002 to determine the mercury content of soils and tailings at the site. Total costs for the project was $17,400
Risk: Water quality, Hg contamination
AMLIS #: CA021900002
Location: N
Field Office: Hollister
Congressional District: 17
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