The Golden Queen Mine site gold deposits are located in the Soledad Mounatin Mining District were developed intermittently over a period of time extending from the early 1900’s to 1980’s. An extensive system of underground working as well as a small open pit, heap leach gold were developed at the site. The quantity of mine tailings were produced as a result of the both types of mine development and milling operations at the mine.
Approximately +100,000 tons of mill tailings were generated by mining operations. A portion of these these mill tailings have discharged from the mill tailings stockpiles and onto the alluvial fan surface, due to erosion from storm events since the mine had ceased operations. The Golden Queen tailings contain elevated levels of arsenic.