The iron mountain mine was mined from the 1860s through 1963 for copper, gold, pyrite, silver, and zinc. The iron mountain mine is a iron and gold mine located in rio arriba county, new mexico at an elevation of 9,882 feet. Iron mountain, mi mines, mine companies, mine owners and mine information. The 4,400acre iron mountain mine site was periodically mined for iron, silver, gold, copper, zinc and pyrite. Sediments eroded from mine site toxic contactwater including acid mine drainage eroded mine site soils contaminated by processing of ore eroded waste rock. On the iron ore of iron mountain proceedings of the boston society of natural history, vol. Well manage the cleanout process from start to finish and provide services to facilitate the.
All aboard the underground mine train to tour the iron mountain iron mine. There is a also a benchmark on top with a newly placed register. Spring creek, tributary to sacramento river near redding, shasta county. Geologically classified as a massive sulfide ore deposit, the site was mined for iron, silver, gold, copper, zinc and pyrite intermittently from the 1860s until 1963.
Iron mountain, mi mining, mines, mine owners and mine. Iron mountain s clean start program is designed to transform your workplace. From the mid19 th century to the early years of the 21 st century, its magnetitehematite ores were first used to forge pioneerera hinges and hardware, later for wartime steelmaking and then for producing plate, pipe and. During the prospecting era, ore was hauled to menominee by wagonthen shipped by vessel. Sep 07, 2016 a colorado mine that spewed 3 million gallons of contaminated wastewater into rivers in three western states was designated a superfund site wednesday, clearing the way for a multimilliondollar. Pdf the 4400acre iron mountain mine site, located in northern. The environmental consequences of mining iron mountain became apparent only a few years after the start of open mining in 1896. The ph of amd is usually in the range of 26, but mineimpacted waters at circumneutral ph 58 are also common. In 1956 three iron mountain businessmen, eugene carollo, albert carollo, and james goulette had an idea for an attraction that would give people a view of iron mining as it once existed. The mine is the source of extremely acidic mine drainage which also contains large amounts of zinc, copper. This is a classic recipe for acid mine drainage, which led one group of researchers to call iron mountain a worstcase scenario with respect to the formation of acid mine drainage.
Iron mine is lacking in aesthetic value, other than the cliff there isnt any real exciting topography. The iron mountain mines is a iron mine located in iron county, utah at an elevation of 7,300 feet. At northern californias iron mountain mine, cleanup teams battle to contain highly acidic water that percolates through a former copper and zinc mine and drains into a sacramento river tributary. Ford motor company iron mountain plant sawmill and power. During its operation, from 1879 1963, ten different mines throughout the sites 4,400 acres were the source of not just copper, but also silver, iron, gold, zinc and pyrite iron sulfide.
Well manage the cleanout process from start to finish and provide services to facilitate the donation. Restoring resources damaged by the iron mountain mine. The 4,400acre iron mountain mine superfund site is in shasta county, california. Its records management, information destruction, and data backup and recovery services are supplied to more than 220,000 customers throughout north america, europe, latin america, africa, and asia. All mine locations were obtained from the usgs mineral resources data system. The locations and other information in this database have not. Choose from onsite, offsite or onetime secure shredding options to destruct your paper documents in a secure, convenient and environmentally friendly way. Prior to the cleanup, the heavily worked mines on iron mountain discharged, on average, 650 pounds of copper, 1,800 pounds of zinc, and 10,000 pounds of iron per day. A massive sawmill complex and powerful hydroelectric plant were constructed at iron mountain. Aug 29, 2010 inside a toxic hellhole, iron mountain mine environment iron mountains runoff polluted rivers for century. History of iron mountain usgs california water science center.
Danalite from the iron mine, bartlett, new hampshire proceedings of the boston society of natural history, vol. Then, download expertgps mapping software, which will allow you to print maps of any mine in nevada, view mines on usgs topo maps and aerial photos, and send the mines as waypoints or pois directly. He discovered the east vulcan mine iron mountain iron mine that started producing in 1877. Iron mountain mine superfund cleanup sacramento river. Iron mountain is a massive sulfide ore deposit that has been extensively mined for valuable metals, but has more recently earned the reputation as the one of the nations largest point sources of extremely acidic mine drainage containing large amounts of toxic metals. An overview of environmental impacts and mine reclamation efforts at iron mountain, shasta county, california. The acid mine drainage from imm is among the most acid and metalladen water anywhere on earth. Remediation in 1983, the site was one of the first listed on the u. Characterization and remediation of iron iii oxiderich scale in a pipeline carrying acid mine drainage at iron mountain mine, california, u. Epa asks public to comment on iron mountain mine cleanup. Us mining sites dump 50m gallons of fouled wastewater daily. The iron mountain mine site includes mining property on the topographic feature known. The iron mountain mine superfund site is an extreme example of how the.
The epa took action to reduce or eliminate acid mine drainage discharges from the site, and incurred costs in doing so response costs. From innovative cleanup technologies to unique redevelopment opportunities, epa is addressing abandoned hardrock mines and mining related sites using a variety of approaches. The iron mountain mine in southwestern utah has served as a source of iron ore for many uses during its 160year history. Introduction listing process contamination investigations 2007 reassessment health risks opportunities to be involved submitting public comments project contacts introduction with support from the local community town of superior and mineral county and the state of montana, the u. Iron mountain mine jobs and cleanup from recovery act funds u. Proposing the flat creek iron mountain mine site for superfund cleanup topics. Since the epa undertook cleanup of iron mountain mines, inc. The thirtyday comment period is open through september. Environmental protection agency opened the public comment period on the proposed cleanup plan for the spring creek arm of the keswick reservoir at the iron mountain mine superfund site, located approximately nine miles northwest of redding, calif.
Mining waste treatment technology selectioncase studyiron. Historic settlement reached on iron mountain mine on october 19, 2000, the united states and the state of california announced a settlement with aventis crop sciences usa, inc. Proposing the flat creekiron mountain mine site for. Geological survey tackling amd, mining impacted groundwater and private mine ownership in a superfund site that spans the panhandle of idaho ed moreen, u. Mining waste treatment technology selectioncase study. Old mine, iron mountain, iron mountain town, west shasta copper zinc mining district, klamath mountains, shasta co. In pursuit of selfsufficient automobile manufacture, henry ford and ford motor company purchased over 3,000 acres of timberland for logging in the upper peninsula of michigan. Iron mountain mine is the largest miningrelated superfund cercla site in california. Proposing the flat creekiron mountain mine site for superfund cleanup topics. Whether one floor, one building or multiple locations, well help you navigate a variety of real estate changes, including office closures, occupancy in a new space or reconfiguration of your existing space. Fish kills in 1902 in the sacramento river, near the city of redding, were the first documented effects, and shortly thereafter, several private lawsuits and an injunction from the u. In a word, remediating the extensive mines in a mountain of rock with almost no acid neutralization capacity is daunting.
Iron mountains clean start program is designed to transform your workplace. Iron mountain mine superfund site and the shasta mining district. Skilled guides take you 2,600 feet into the mine and give demonstrations and insight about the long ago mining era. Acid mine drainage amd consists of metalladen solutions produced by the oxidative dissolution of iron sulfide minerals exposed to air, moisture, and acidophilic microbes during the mining of coal and metal deposits. What it offers is a nice hike to a nice viewpoint, accessible in both summer or winter. Characterization and remediation of ironiii oxiderich scale in a pipeline carrying acid mine drainage at iron mountain mine, california, u. On the site of the east vulcan mine eugene carollo rediscovered an exploratory tunnel, which had not been used since the late 1800s. Iron mountain has been a superfund site since 1983, and is home of the worlds most acidic water negative 3. The abandoned mine site characterization and cleanup handbook handbook is the result of the collective efforts and contributions of a number of individuals. From the 1860s until 1963, mining for copper, gold, pyrite, silver and zinc took place at the site.
Inside a toxic hellhole, iron mountain mine sfgate. In the case of the iron mountain mine imm superfund site, and the natural resources damage assessment nrda process that informed the. Operations included open pit mining, adits and stoping inside iron mountain, milling, ore transportation via railroad and tramway, a cyanide leaching plant, cementation plants, ore roasting areas, and a smelter. The richmond mine of the iron mountain copper deposit contains some of the most. Iron mountain iron mine history museum vulcan, michigan. Mine cleanup program california state water resources. Iron mountain, mi mining, mines, mine owners and mine statistics. Following a great deal of research and planning, the mine. Shasta county letter notifying compliance wclean up i abatement order no. Nine miners are imprisoned in a room in the first level of the pewabic mine, and the chances are that some of them will be taken out dead.
Us clears way for cleanup of colorado mine after huge spill. Usmining provides information on mines, operators, and minerals mined in iron mountain, mi. Forest reserve precursor to the forest service were served against mountain. Environmental effects of mining iron mountain usgs. The epa evaluated five potential cleanup alternatives, that provide a range of cleanup options that vary in. Pagel referred to a 2006 abandoned mine cleanup bill brought by thensen. During the earliest days of handbook development, mike bishop of epa region 8 lead the effort to develop a superfund mine waste reference document for epa project managers working on mine. According to rick sugarek, the epas iron mountain project manager for the pacific southwest region, as epa wants to ensure the public is part of the process as it moves toward further cleanup action at the iron mountain mine. Irm is an american enterprise information management services company founded in 1951 and headquartered in boston, massachusetts. The iron mountain mine superfund site in redding, california is the site of one of our most comprehensive metagenomic projects. Iron mountain mine, also known as the richmond mine at iron mountain, is a mine near redding in northern california, us.
Iron mountain mine, also known as the richmond mine at iron mountain, is a mine near. Jul 26, 2018 this is a classic recipe for acid mine drainage, which led one group of researchers to call iron mountain a worstcase scenario with respect to the formation of acid mine drainage. The site includes former surface and underground mine workings, waste rock piles, tailings piles, abandoned mining facilities and former smelting areas. At northern californias iron mountain mine, cleanup teams battle to contain highly acidic water that percolates through a former copper and zinc mine.
An uncontrolled release of iron mountain acid mine drainage could potentially threaten the quality of the drinkingwater supply. From the 1860s through 1963, the 4,400acre iron mountain mine imm site was periodically mined for iron, silver, gold, copper, zinc, and pyrite. Abandoned mine site characterization and cleanup handbook. Acid mine drainage community study university of california. Though mining operations were discontinued in 1963, underground mine workings, waste rock dumps, piles of mine tailings, and an open mine pit still remain at the site. Negative ph, efflorescent mineralogy, and consequences for. An immense cave of rock and timber occurred in the first level just as the men were quitting work, and it is feared that some of them were caught and crushed to death. Here, sawmill workers produced huge quantities of lumber for wooden automobile framework. His bill included waivers not just to the clean water act, but also to the toxic substances control act and solid waste disposal act. The mine was designated a superfund site in 1983 and a water treatment plant was built in 1994. At its peak production, iron mountain ranked as the tenth largest copper production site in the world, sixth in the u. Iron mountain mine superfund site and the shasta mining. Iron mountain mine jobs and cleanup from recovery act.
The case studies below highlight site assessment, cleanup, stakeholder involvement, reuse approaches and lessons learned from work at mine sites. Map and download gps waypoints for 3775 mines in nevada click here to download gps waypoints pois for all of the mines in nevada in gpx format. From the 1860s through 1963, the 4,400acre iron mountain mine imm site periodically was mined for iron, silver, gold, copper, zinc, and pyrite. The surprising reason abandoned us mines havent been. Extensive npl cleanup efforts at iron mountain mine final sitewide remedy requires holistic approach evaluating shasta mining district helps us understand our remedy at iron mountain mine more fully not just managing one mine. Beginning in 1986, the environmental protection agency epa responded to the release of hazardous waste at what is now called the iron mountain mines superfund site the site. Us shutdown suspends cleanup operations at superfund mine sites. The iron mountain mine, outside of redding, is a hellish pit where acid water sloshes against your boots, greenish bacterial slime gurgles out of the walls, and stalactites and stalagmites of acid. A colorado mine that spewed 3 million gallons of contaminated wastewater into rivers in three western states was designated a superfund site wednesday, clearing the way for a multimilliondollar. Snowbird contributed a significant amount of labor as in. Environmental protection agencys national priority list as part of the comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act.
Operations stopped at the iron mountain mines in 1962, but the area was still designated a superfund site. Here, sawmill workers produced huge quantities of lumber for wooden automobile framework, floorboards, and wheels. Pdf an overview of environmental impacts and mine reclamation. Remediating some of the worlds most acidic waters at the. Geological survey ca rwqcb 060778 public an evaluation of problems 45 arising from acid mine drainage in the. The first substantial prospecting in the area was done by the milwaukee iron company in 1872 under the direction of dr. See close up iron mining techniques and tools used in mining from 1870 to 1945. History of iron mountain usgs california water science. Owner of iron mountain mine writes president obama. The richmond mine contains some of the most acid water in the world, with ph values having been measured as low as 3. Alpers is the project chief of a usgs team that provides technical support to the u.
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