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loans to clay loam with variable content of shale and sandstone fragments. These steeply <br /> sloping, shallow soils are less suitable for topsoil than the Shavano series described <br /> previously. An average of six inches of fair topsoil may be obtained from the Persayo <br /> Series. <br /> There are three major soils types at the New Horizon Mine 2 area (see Soils Map of the <br /> permit application): Progresso-Bond Complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes; Barx sandy loam, 1 <br /> to 4 percent slopes; and Haplaquolls, 1 to 3 percent slopes. <br /> The Progresso-Bond complex is comprised of 40 percent Progresso, 40 percent Bond, 10 <br /> percent Barx (see below), 5 percent Travesilla, and 5 percent Bowdish series soils. The <br /> Progresso series is classified as a fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Ustollic Haplargid. The Bond <br /> series is a loamy, mixed, mesic Lithic Ustollic Haplargid. The main difference between <br /> these two is the distance to bedrock; Bond soils are shallow (17 to 19 inches to bedrock) <br /> while Progresso soils are fairly deep (36 inches to bedrock). This complex is found on <br /> gently to strongly sloping irrigated uplands over much of the New Horizon Mine 2 area. <br /> The soils are shallow to moderately deep, well drained sandy loams formed in sandstone <br /> derived alluvium. Topsoil quality is good to an average depth of 2.1 feet. <br /> The Barx soil is found in the southeast corner of the New Horizon Mine 2 permit area. It is <br /> classed as a fine-loamy, mined, mesic Ustollic Haplargid. It is a deep, well drained sandy <br /> loam formed in sandstone derived alluvium. Part of this soil unit (about 15 acres) has been <br /> historically used for hay production, is irrigated with a dependable water supply, and has <br /> therefore been rated as prime farmland by the USDA - Soil Conservation Service. Special <br /> methods of soil handling for this prime farmland are discussed under "Description of the <br /> Operations and Reclamation Plan" below. Revegetation success standards and reclamation <br /> plant materials are discussed in Section B, Part X - Operations on Prime Farmlands. <br /> The ephemeral drainages of the New Horizon Mine 2 area contain three families of <br /> Haplaquoll soils; Lithic, Lithic/Typic, and Typic Haplaquolls. The loamy, mixed, mesic, <br /> Lithic Haplaquolls are found in the upper reaches of the swales in the area and are the <br /> shallowest of the three series (bedrock at 11 inches). Lithic/Typic Haplaquolls <br /> (coarse-loamy, mixed, mesic, moderately deep Typic Haplaquolls) are found in the mid to <br /> lower reaches of the swales and exhibit good quality soil to a depth of about 24 inches. The <br /> fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, deep Typic Haplaquolls are found in the lower reaches of the <br /> swales and along Calamity Draw. These soils have sandy loam and loam textures to a depth <br /> of about four feet with sandy clay loam below that. The soils were classified as Haplaquolls <br /> because of soil wetness. However, this diagnostic factor is artificially induced because of <br /> irrigation water. The soils were formed in the alluvium of the swales. Farr to good quality <br /> topsoil exists in the swale areas in thicknesses from 1.2 to over 4 feet. <br /> Vegetation, Wildlife and Land Use <br /> Five vegetation communities are found in the present New Horizon Mine 1 permit area: <br /> annual grains and bay (agricultural), grassland, upland sagebrush, juniper, and riparian. <br /> Agricultural and grassland communities predominate. The grassland community is an <br /> abandoned hayfield. The upland sagebrush community dominates on lands not disturbed by <br /> 9 <br />