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Santa Fe Pit and
Leach Pads
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The Santa Fe/Calvada Mine of Homestake Mining Company (HMC), is located in
west central Nevada at an elevation of 6400 feet, the northern extent of the hot
desert. The mine was active from 1988-1994, extracting microscopic gold in an
open pit sodium cyanide leach pad operation. Reclamation procedures began in
1989 and are part of an ongoing process to reclaim the land to premining uses.
To date, 717 of the 797 acres disturbed have been revegetated and are being
monitored for plant species composition and cover. In addition, HMC created
water improvements for wildlife and completed an Abandoned Mine Closure
program.
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Pad 1 Pre
Final Reclamation
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Pad 1
Post Final Reclamation
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8 inch growth medium
application and 10 CYD green manure application
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In order to document reclamation success, both reference and revegetated
areas were sampled using the Line Intercept Cover Transect Method. Results
showed that supplemental irrigation favored the establishment of grasses to that
of shrubs, and seed germination and plant establishment were greater in the
furrow bottoms. As of the 1999 growing season, the site based on statistical
analysis is progressing toward meeting long term as well as short term
reclamation objectives.
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Broadcast seed and straw
mulch application and crimping
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HMC also enhanced wildlife habitat by installing two small game water
guzzlers within the site boundaries, servicing a significant Chukar partridge
population. A big game guzzler was also constructed off-site for a reintroduced
population of Desert Big Horn Sheep. Abandoned Mine Closure was innovatively
achieved using the "Foarn System." A total of 19 openings were
permanently closed without adverse environmental impacts.
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Temporary
Irrigation
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Pad 1
- 1999
Growing Season
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