Title
Abandoned Mine Reclamation in the Mountain West - Case study: Linton Mine and Millsite on Cramer Creek, Upper Clark Fork, Montana
Abstract
About 200,000 abandoned hardrock mining sites are distributed throughout the Mountain West of which about 10% pose hazardous conditions in need of remediation. Risks include both environmental degradation and physical threats to human safety. Water quality is compromised locally and throughout watersheds by heavy metals contamination and acid discharges. Open shafts and adits invite potentially fatal entry and exploration into decaying underground systems. Some preliminary statewide surveys of abandoned mine sites are completed in Montana. Some remediation is complete while other projects are in various stages of completion. However the vast majority of sites remain incompletely surveyed. Where the need for remediation is identified, most projects are under-funded or completely unfunded.
The Linton site contains many hazards typical of abandoned hardrock mine sites. It serves as an effective example of the challenges facing remediation teams. The Linton Mine is located along Cramer Creek, waters from which drain directly into the Upper Clark Fork River. The site is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, whose existing site maps are cursory and inadequate for planning use. This poster presents a comprehensive site map, incorporating GPS mapping and air photo interpretation, to document on-site hazard factors and features. Local and regional maps show the scope and magnitude of the problem and the distribution of abandoned mines in different jurisdictions.
Start Date
14-4-2000 12:00 AM
End Date
14-4-2000 12:00 AM
Document Type
Poster
Abandoned Mine Reclamation in the Mountain West - Case study: Linton Mine and Millsite on Cramer Creek, Upper Clark Fork, Montana
About 200,000 abandoned hardrock mining sites are distributed throughout the Mountain West of which about 10% pose hazardous conditions in need of remediation. Risks include both environmental degradation and physical threats to human safety. Water quality is compromised locally and throughout watersheds by heavy metals contamination and acid discharges. Open shafts and adits invite potentially fatal entry and exploration into decaying underground systems. Some preliminary statewide surveys of abandoned mine sites are completed in Montana. Some remediation is complete while other projects are in various stages of completion. However the vast majority of sites remain incompletely surveyed. Where the need for remediation is identified, most projects are under-funded or completely unfunded.
The Linton site contains many hazards typical of abandoned hardrock mine sites. It serves as an effective example of the challenges facing remediation teams. The Linton Mine is located along Cramer Creek, waters from which drain directly into the Upper Clark Fork River. The site is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, whose existing site maps are cursory and inadequate for planning use. This poster presents a comprehensive site map, incorporating GPS mapping and air photo interpretation, to document on-site hazard factors and features. Local and regional maps show the scope and magnitude of the problem and the distribution of abandoned mines in different jurisdictions.