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. The extent of the thick "A" Seam coal "pod" to the west is presently unknown, <br />however further study on the shape of the deposit is discussed below in the <br />Structural Trends section. Dependent upon a continued east-west, structural <br />strike of the seam (figure 7), the coal deposit should extend across the succeeding <br />north-south trending drainages to the west (East and West Alkali Gulches). While <br />potentially numerous scenarios exist for the western extension of the coal seam <br />(thick "pod", split seams, thin trace or non-depositional), I do not believe that the <br />coal seam will extend at a minable thickness (>4.0 feet) beyond Cherry Creek. <br />However, each additional ridge with minable coal present will greatly increase the <br />reserve total due to the increasing size of the ridge acreage (see Reserve section). <br />Note: There is an old mine location shown on the topography map along <br />the west side of Cherry Creek figure 9), however the mine name and coal <br />seam are presently unknown. This should be examined and a visit made to <br />the mine if possible to determine the coal's stratigraphic position and <br />thickness. <br />2) Sulfur Trends: The high sulfur trends encountered along the eastern mazgin <br />of National King Coal Mine and found in the mine's core hole data to the <br />east/southeast aze the influence of a high sulfur (slightly shaley) coal directly <br />deposited upon the Upper "A" coal seam. The data shows a slight increase in the <br />total thickness of the coal (from 5.0-6.5 to 6.5-7.5 feet) with a corresponding large <br />• increase in sulfur content (from 0.60-0.85 to 0.95-1.80 sulfur}. The high sulfur <br />trend may represent the initial regression of the Cliff House Sandstone above, <br />resulting in tidal and estuary deposits overlying the coal before the thicker <br />sandstone was deposited. This cazbonaceous, salt-water-influenced shale/coal <br />deposit would have been deposited azound the depositionally higher, thick central <br />"A" seam "pod." <br />c) Depositional Roof Trends: The primary depositional feature is the thick Cliff House <br />Sandstone Formation which caps the topographic ridges of the area. The sandstone is <br />very uniform and provides a stable upper roof sequence. Within the project azea the <br />interburden between the "A" Seam coal and the Cliff House Sandstone is a series of thin, <br />interbedded silty sandstones and shale layers. Two depositional features of interest aze: <br />I) the Cliff House Sandstone is closer to [he "A" Seam coat (less interburden) within the <br />project area and 2) at National King Coal Mine the interburden has increased with a <br />series of small sandstone channel features (i.e., overbank/splay deposits). Within the <br />project area the closer proximity of the Cliff House Sandstone may provide a more stable <br />roof lithology with decreased shale and thin sandstone interbedding. <br />d) Structural Trends: There are two dominant regional lineament trends present in the <br />azea surrounding the project; the Hogback monocline and the Mancos River (figure 8). <br />Both trend N30-40E and represent the influence of deeper crustal strike-slip faults. The <br />. two lineaments appear to form the block upon which the "A" seam coal was formed and <br />may have had a significant influence on the character of the deposit. While National <br />