Yukon Conservation Society/LightHawk Organization Faro Mine Flight September 14, 2017 Gerry Whitley pilot Flight path was over the mine and the length of Rose Creek to the Pelly River.

Faro Mine Remediation Project map – Faro Pit top left, Rose Creek Tailings Complex beneath it, Intermediate and Cross Valley Ponds/Dams to the far left. Haul Road runs through the centre. Grum Pit to the right, Vangorda Pit on the far right.

Upstream face of the Intermediate Dam that holds back tailings Upstream face of the Intermediate Dam that holds back tailings. The Cross Valley Dam (at the top of the picture) is the final dam. The diversion ditch is on the left routing Rose Creek around the tailings.

Downstream face of the Intermediate Dam Downstream face of the Intermediate Dam. The area of brown water is sometimes known as the polishing pond, held back by the Cross Valley Dam (not shown).

Overview of the discharges from the Faro mine looking downstream of the Cross Valley Dam. Furthest right: clear discharges from the water treatment plant. Next: Dry spillway channel. Center: a series of toe drain channels that come together. The water is brown. Left: Diversion channel.

Overview of a series of toe drain channels downstream of the Cross Valley Dam where they come together before entering Rose Creek. The water is brown. On the left is the Rose Creek Diversion channel.

The Faro mill. Note that the triangular shaped building is the primary crusher. Water has been treated in the Faro mill in the past. It was pumped into the mill, treated with lime, settled and discharged below the tailings pond.

Faro Open Pit and Waste Rock looking north-west Faro Open Pit and Waste Rock looking north-west. This shows the mill, waste rock and open pit. Note that the water level in the pit is high enough that water can be gravity fed to the mill for treatment prior to discharge.

Faro Open Pit and Waste Rock looking south Faro Open Pit and Waste Rock looking south. This shows the mill, waste rock and open pit. The Rose Creek Tailings Area is on the right. The Haul Road to the Grum and Vangorda pits is visible heading south to the top of the picture.

Faro Pit Looking South: The Faro Creek diversion (will soon enter North Fork of Rose Creek) is on the left.

Faro Pit North Wall: Faro Creek diversion is at the top of the image Faro Pit North Wall: Faro Creek diversion is at the top of the image. The north wall shows erosion scars from failures of the diversion. The north wall is steep enough to continue to slough and fail.

Faro Tailings Pond: The original, secondary and intermediate tailings with the Cross Valley pond in the background. The 5 small ponds in the original tailings were used to test various tailings covers.

Faro Tailings looking west: The diversion ditch and the relationship with the intermediate and cross valley dam are shown.

Faro Waste Rock Dump: Looking north over the Nork Fork of Rose Creek with the creek in the foreground. The Vangorda haul road crosses the North Fork and impounds water. Pit water can flow through the waste rock into the North Fork.

Faro Waste Rock Dump: Surface of the waste rock dumps including a large tire pile (bottom center of the picture).

Grum: Looking north this shows the Grum Sulphide cell and collection pond on the left. The haul road in the center. The Gum open pit is in the upper right. The waste rock dump is on the right.

Grum and Vangorda: Looking south this shot shows Vangorda in the backgound. The Vangorda water treatment is on the left. The Grum open pit is in the foreground

Grum and Vangorda: Another shot showing Vangorda in the backgound Grum and Vangorda: Another shot showing Vangorda in the backgound. The Vangorda water treatment is on the left. The Grum open pit is in the foreground

View of the Grum Open Pit

Vangorda: An overview of the Vangorda mine site Vangorda: An overview of the Vangorda mine site. Vangorda Creek comes in on the right and is diverted around the top of the pit. Waste rock on the left.

Vangorda: Looking south over the Vangorda mine site Vangorda: Looking south over the Vangorda mine site. Vangorda Creek comes in on the left and is diverted around the bottom (in this picture) of the pit. Waste rock on the left.

Views of the haul road crossing of the North Fork of Rose Creek Views of the haul road crossing of the North Fork of Rose Creek. This crossing is impounding water. The crossing was not constructed as a dam. Faro Pit on the top right, Rose Creek Tailings Area on the top left.

Views of the haul road crossing of the North Fork of Rose Creek Views of the haul road crossing of the North Fork of Rose Creek. This crossing is impounding water. The crossing was not constructed as a dam. Faro Waste Rock and Rose Creek Tailings Area on the right.

Views of the haul road crossing of the North Fork of Rose Creek Views of the haul road crossing of the North Fork of Rose Creek. This crossing is impounding water. The crossing was not constructed as a dam. Faro Waste Rock on the top left.

Rose Creek at the Pelly River Rose Creek at the Pelly River. Sediment (including from the Faro Mine Site) is carried by the creek into the river.

Rose Creek at the Pelly River Rose Creek at the Pelly River. Sediment (including from the Faro Mine Site) is carried by the creek into the river.

Rose Creek at the Pelly River Rose Creek at the Pelly River. Sediment (including from the Faro Mine Site) is carried by the creek into the river.

Learn more about the Faro Mine (and other Yukon environmental issues) at www.yukonconservation.org. Visit us in person at 302 Hawkins Street, Whitehorse. Consider becoming a member and a supporter. For more information mining@yukonconservation.org or 1 (867) 668-5678.