Category: Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Closure of Hazardous Mine Openings in the Diamond Gulch Area

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Diamond Gulch East Project

In 2012- 2013, the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining Abandoned Mine Reclamation (AMR) program inventoried 31 hazardous mine openings in the Diamond Gulch area in Juab County.

In mid-April, reclamation of the area began to close 30 shafts and adit (mine entrance) using backfill and shaft grates. These closures prevent people from venturing inside and being exposed to the many hazards found in abandoned mines including dangerous gases and unstable structures.

“Although the Diamond Gulch East project is fairly isolated, the area is becoming more popular with outdoor recreationist,” stated Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining Project Manager Susan White. “Many of the mine workings are visible and are an obvious attraction.”

This area is known as the Tintic District, with the first mine established in the late 1860’s. Over 2.6-million ounces of gold, silver, copper, lead and bismuth were produced from the area. The district was extensively mined until 1958; however some mining still occurs depending on metal prices.

About the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program(AMRP)

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Utah has a history rich in mining including copper, silver and uranium. Often when mines no longer produced, they were simply abandoned leaving equipment, open shafts, tunnels and piles of waste rock. In 1975, the Utah Mined Reclamation Act was passed making it illegal for mines to be abandoned. Today there are an estimated 17,000 mine openings scattered across Utah.  

The Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program (AMRP) works to protect the public from dangers of old mines by sealing off access to openings and cleaning up waste. Old mining sites can be intriguing to unsuspecting explorers but can contain dangerous gases, unstable structures and explosives.

The Copper Ridge and Knight Ideal projects are two of many projects completed in the past year.

The Closure of 17 Hazardous Abandoned Mine Openings

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The Copper Ridge Project

The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (DOGM), Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program permanently closed 17 hazardous mine openings including five shafts, with funding provided by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The 12 uranium mine openings were located in close proximity to a popular mountain bike and jeep trail in the Klondike Bluffs area north of Moab. The copper mines were located in the North Klondike Bluffs area, near the Baby Steps Recreational Trail.

The mines were closed using grates, polyurethane foam and waste rock to prevent people from accessing the sites. Abandoned mines often provide habitat for bats. Rebar grates are often installed to prevent people from entering, while still allowing bats access. At several of the mine openings complete backfilling was the only option to protect the public from high radon levels.

The mines are located on BLM land. DOGM assisted the BLM with closing abandoned mine features, which were a priority due to their proximity to areas with high visitation and recreation use.

Reclaiming an Abandoned Coal Loading Facility

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Knight-Ideal Loadout Project

Knight-Ideal Before and After
Knight Ideal Loadout Project – Before and After

The 19-acre Knight-Ideal Loadout Project involved reclaiming an abandoned coal loading facility in the town of Wellington at a total cost of $2.4 million.

The project excavated and disposed of approximately 31,500 cubic yards (cy) of coal refuse, 2,500 cy of structural debris and 650 tons of other debris; 58 tons of scrap steel was recycled.  Roughly 10,500 cy of contaminated soil was excavated and removed to an offsite landfill.  Reclamation began in October 2012 and was completed December 2014.

Once the site was reclaimed, abandoned mine reclamation staff partnered with Wellington City and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to build a community fishing pond on the property, greatly improving the quality, safety and functionality of the site.