West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

and minerals of intrinsic and scientific value such as turquoise, opal, jasper, and specimenmaterials. Construction aggregate is the highest tonnage and highest dollar-value commodityproduced in California. In 2000, 240 million tons of construction sand and gravel and crushedstone were produced with a dollar value of 1.4 billion dollars (Kohler, 2000, p.7.3).Annual mine revenue from production from existing mines in the western Mojave Desert,for Category I and II tortoise habitat alone, is estimated to be $22.2 million, accumulating to248.6 million over the lives of the mines (U.S. Bureau of Mines, Executive Summary, Oct. 1993,p. 4; Almquist, et al., Oct. 1993, p. 7). Prospecting for gold continues throughout the planningarea and production is occurring at Randsburg. Inactive small mines and prospects are scatteredthroughout the planning area. A few select commodities of particularly significance arepresented below.Table 3-48, showing known active mines in each conservation area, lists eight activemines (i.e. a mine with a SMARA plan) in proposed tortoise DWMAs and eight active mines inthe MGS Conservation Areas. In addition there is an aggregate operation in the carbonateendemic management area downslope from the Mitsubishi plant with plans to begin productionafter a rail spur can be acquired.Table 3-48Active Mines Within Conservation AreasCONSERVATION AREAACTIVE MINESBLM Managed Private And State ManagedSuperior-Cronese DWMABeige stone, Afton green stone, MudHills zeolite, Opal Mountain zeoliteNewberry-Rodman DWMA Redtop cindersPinto Mountains DWMAFremont-Kramer DWMA Rand Mountain stone Rand Mountain stone, ShadowMountains dolomiteMohave Ground SquirrelCarbonate EndemicsAlkali Mariposa LilyBarstow Woolly SunflowerBendire’s ThrasherBig Rock CreekLane Mountain MilkvetchLittle San Bernardino MountainsGiliaMiddle KnobMojave Fringe-toed LizardMojave Monkeyflower – NewberryMojave Monkeyflower – BrisbaneKelso Valley MonkeyflowerNorth EdwardsCoso Mountains pumice, Trona sandand gravel, Trona clay, Back Springsbentonite, Mud Hills zeolite, OpalMountain zeoliteCoolgardie goldRand Mountain stone, ShadowMountains dolomiteHectorite, borate, cindersBoron clayChapter 3 3-230