Possible Gold Mine on Upper Rock Creek Options

[SnowBear]

This article from yesterday's Missoulian:

http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/artic...1cc4c002e0.html

It also has a map that shows the location as just upstream of the Gillies bridge.

[MTNole]

I'd like to think that this wouldn't turn into another Berkley Swimming Pool....


Guess they're hoping the price of gold stays up. Without cyanide it's a fairly spendy process.

[none]

Without cyanide it's a fairly spendy process.

Not necessarily. It really depends on the type of deposit.

[WilleyBooger]

This article from yesterday's Missoulian:

http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/artic...1cc4c002e0.html

It also has a map that shows the location as just upstream of the Gillies bridge.

Not to be a jerk, but it's two miles downstream from the Pvt. Behrenson (sp?) (formerly Gillies) Bridge.

Cyanide extraction is still banned in MT, is it not? My understanding of the article is they think they can get the gold out w/o cyanide. Don't know as much about silver extraction. Even if they don't use cyanide, it looks really bad for Rock Creek - sediment runoff and so on. Maybe acid drainage in the future, too.

[Ben]

Not necessarily. It really depends on the type of deposit.

5 bucks says there'll massive resistance to this by the homeowners and businesses that rely on RC for their livelihood as well as TU if it goes beyond this stage.

[none]

5 bucks says there'll massive resistance to this by the homeowners and businesses that rely on RC for their livelihood as well as TU if it goes beyond this stage.

But of course. For goodness sake the mine isn't even in the planning stages yet, but I'm sure TU can gather some money from the coastal states to put up a good fight!

[rickie]

.., it looks really bad for Rock Creek - sediment runoff and so on. Maybe acid drainage in the future, too.

Whoa, sediment run off and maybe acid drainage? That would be a terrible thing.

I think you have counted the chickens before they've come home, or before the cows have hatched, or something like that. As Paul mentioned, it depends upon the deposit type and without a mine plan presented, it's all conjecture.

[Ben]

Whoa, sediment run off and maybe acid drainage? That would be a terrible thing. I think you have counted the chickens before they've come home, or before the cows have hatched, or something like that. As Paul mentioned, it depends upon the deposit type.

True. wait to see what the development looks like before we shut it down.

Paul - Protecting the headwaters of Rock Creek is a high priority for a lot of people. Takes money to do that. Not everyone can dump millions in to campaigns just by calling a few energy companies.

[WilleyBooger]

Whoa, sediment run off and maybe acid drainage? That would be a terrible thing.

I think you have counted the chickens before they've come home, or before the cows have hatched, or something like that. As Paul mentioned, it depends upon the deposit type and without a mine plan presented, it's all conjecture.

Sediment in runoff comes with any development. If you think the BMPs stop all sediment runoff, you've got your head in the sand.

AMD - depends on the mineral deposit. That's why I said "maybe." Obviously the DEQ and the enviro groups will be watching for this. This topic has great ramifications for both economic and environmental concerns, and they'd be foolish not to bring it up during the permitting process. There are a number of abandoned mines whose remediation is costing us taxpayers many millions of dollars because of lack of "conjecture" during permitting.

[SnowBear]

Not to be a jerk, but it's two miles downstream from the Pvt. Behrenson (sp?) (formerly Gillies) Bridge.

You are correct. Thanks for the clarification.

I posted this as a heads up and while there are a lot of hurdles for them to jump before they're running ore trucks up and down those roads, it's worth putting on one's radar.

The development on the other end of Rock Creek started out with a developer misleading the locals about his intent. It was only after they broke ground that the proverbial crap hit the fan.

So, is it too early to stay awake nights worrying? Sure. Is it too early to keep your eyes open for hearings and public comment? No.

[butteguy]

If you think the BMPs stop all sediment runoff, you've got your head in the sand.

I can attest to this. I'm actually a bit embarassed to tell you that I worked for a construction company at one time (not in MT) and in more cases than you would want to know about, the BMPs were nothing more than something written in a plan to turn into the state, but never actually implemented.

I hope that's not the case around here, but unfortunately I saw a lot of that when I worked elsewhere.