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peatmoss, which indicates a specific type of originating <br />material. The term peatmoss, for example, is often used <br />erroneously to describe any peat soil. <br />Several peat operators interviewed noted that Colorado peat <br />is a marginal product in relation to the sphagnum's imported from <br />other states and Canada. One operator also noted that the <br />existence of two firms which make and sell a soil conditioner <br />made from composted organic wastes is further indication of the <br />marginal quality of Colorado peat soils. In reality, the <br />useability of the resource is probably more a function of the <br />quality of the deposits that the operators are excavating at any <br />one time, rather than the nature of the entire resource within <br />the state. Despite this, the peat resource is valuable when <br />extracted as noted by its continued use and sale. <br />The analysis of soil samples collected during the study was <br />completed as a compliment to the water sampling that was also <br />conducted. The results of the analysis are provided in Appendix <br />C. A review of the results of that analysis, indicated a <br />potential range of organic matter contents from a low of 21.4 <br />percent, to a high of 83 percent, with a mean of 52.9 percent. <br />It was hoped that analysis of bulk density differences existing <br />in excavated and unexcavated sites would give some explanation as <br />to the poor revegetation rate found in most excavated areas. <br />Unfortunately, however, because of errors in the procedure used <br />by the lab to calculate bulk density the figures provided cannot <br />be considered reliable and should be disregarded. <br />32 • <br />