skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: SITE demonstration of bioremediation of cyanide at the Summitville Colorado Site

Conference ·
OSTI ID:111488
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Pintail Systems, Inc., Aurora, CO (United States)
  2. Dames & Moore, Denver, CO (United States)
  3. Science Applications International Corp., Hackensack, NJ (United States)

The Summitville Mine in southern Colorado is located in the San Juan mountains. Summitville was the site of mining operations that began in 1873 with the discovery and development of gold placer and lode deposits. Gold ore (approximately 10 million tons) was mined, crushed and stacked on a lined, bowl-shaped leach pad. The mine experienced problems with water balance and unplanned solution discharges from the start of the mine life. Solution containment complications and ineffective water treatment contributed to environmental problems. Despite the production of 249,000 troy ounces of gold during the mine operation SCMCI was unable to meet remedial requirements and notified the state of Colorado of its intention to file a Chapter VII bankruptcy in December 1992. The EPA Region VIII Emergency Response Branch took over site operations on December 16, 1992 to prevent a catastrophic release of hazardous substances to the environment. The Summitville Mine site was added to the National Priority List in June 1994. This report addresses demonstration of an innovative bioremediation technology for treatment of cyanide and soluble leachable metals in the heap and heap solutions.

OSTI ID:
111488
Report Number(s):
CONF-9504110-; TRN: 95:005009-0030
Resource Relation:
Conference: 21. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annual Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory research symposium, Cincinnati, OH (United States), 4-6 Apr 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of 21st Annual RREL research symposium: Abstract proceedings; PB: 398 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English