Red River Valley
The Questa molybdenum mine, owned and operated by Molycorp Inc., is located 5.8 km east of the town of Questa in Taos County, New Mexico in the Red River Valley and has been in operation since 1965. The region is one of extensive hydrothermal alteration, sulfide mineralization and natural acid rock drainage.
RGC has undertaken extensive background characterization, modelling and plume delineation in the valley upstream of the mine. Services have been provided in the areas of ARD and metal leaching characterization and prediction of contamination from the natural hydrothermal scars and alluvial material in the valley. Geochemical modelling, regional 3D groundwater flow modelling and water and load balance modelling of specific scars within the valley has been provided.
Services Provided
- Field Investigations (extensive soils and water sampling)
- ARD/Geochemical Assessments & Prediction
- Mineralogical Characterization
- Water Resources; Hydrology; Groundwater
Papers: Shaw, S., Wels, C., Robertson A., Fortin, S. and Walker, B. (2003). Background Characterization Study of Naturally Occurring Acid Rock Drainage in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos County, New Mexico. Paper submitted to the 6th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage (ICARD), July 2003.
Clients
Molycorp Inc.
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