Unofficial returns from Saturday's voting show the Colville Tribes' Mt. Tolman mining referendum going down to defeat by a nearly 3-l margin, unless absentee ballots change that trend.

At polls in the Inchelium district, the yes/no vote was 44/60; in Keller it was 15/54; at Nespelem it was 53/187; and at Omak the vote was 59/156.

Fewer than 10 poll ballots were thrown out due to technicalities, officials said.

Absentee ballot requests out-number poll voting 1,625 to 628. An election official said 1,326 absentee ballots had been returned by Monday. Absentee ballots will be counted on Thursday afternoon. The absentee ballot requests were 443 for Inchelium, 180 for Keller, 524 for Nespelem and 478 for Omak.

What trend absentee ballots will take is anyone's guess, the election official said Monday.

If sentiment for mining exists with tribal members living off the reservation, those votes could change the local vote decision.

The mining referendum has stirred up strong feelings throughout the reservation and with tribal members living off the reservation.

At issue is whether members want their leaders to pursue a molybdenum mining operation on Mt.Tolman. One estimate suggests that there are a million tons of mineral ore on and around Mt.Tolman. Molybdenum is used in the manufacture of steel, among other products. It is now selling for more than $30 a pound.

Environmental organizations on the reservation have been fighting the mining issue and have developed studies showing the dangers of pollution from runoffs, and concern for health issues associated with the project.

Tribal officials held meetings in all four reservation districts and three sites off the reservation where members could come and ask questions about the mining project.

Tribal officials have stated that they would abide by the vote of the members.