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For many years, this area has been used for mining gold.
Ore was extracted from two deep mine shafts.
It was crushed and processed through a mill. A cyanide
solution dissolved the gold out of the rock. After the ore
was processed, the remaining tailings (finely ground rock)
were deposited in large piles known as impoundments.
Later, the use of cyanide was eliminated to allow for the
mining of copper and silver in addition to gold.
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Before and after reclamation of the McCabe mine site
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Mine site in full operation, early 1990’s
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Reclamation activities of the mine site required permits
to control the quality of the surface and ground waters. Many tests
were performed to determine the environmental impact the mining
had on this region. Once the tests had been conducted, steps could
be taken to begin the revegetation process. The following
photographs provide an example of the reclamation of the ponds and
surrounding areas.
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Tailings impoundment prior to reclamation
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Completed tailings impoundment after reclamation
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The water and ground materials were tested to ensure no contamination was present. If resources were of high enough quality, they were incorporated with the rebuilding process. For example water, from the various ponds, was used to irrigate the new vegetation. The areas were covered with waste rock materials and soil. Seed mixtures were then spread over the areas to start plant growth. The area had to be re-shaped with the building of diversion ditches and a retention dam to prevent the accumulation of rainwater.
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Early revegetation of mine site
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The revegetation efforts were very successful. The foliage became dense with flowers and native grasses. The land is currently used for wildlife habitat and livestock grazing. The McCabe mine provides an example of how a site is returned to a natural state after it has been mined for its resources.
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Completed reclamation of tailings
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