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within the mine area, surface water quality parameters reflect the <br />transitional nature of this area. Increased suspended solids result from <br />changes in stream velocities as relatively steep upland drainages to the <br />west grade into the relatively shallow stream channels of the plains to <br />the east. <br />Surface water in the mine and loadout areas can be characterized as <br />calcium- carbonate and sodium- sulfate types respectively. Surface water <br />samples demonstrate elevated concentrations of both suspended and <br />dissolved solids as well as elevated iron and manganese values. Surface <br />water resources in both mine and loadout areas are suitable for limited <br />domestic and livestock use, however, current beneficial uses in these <br />areas are limited by upstream diversion of surface water resources. The <br />City of Florence diversion on Newlin Creek upstream of the mine area was <br />previously described. Oak Creek is utilized as the primary municipal <br />water source for the town of Rockvale. The Oak Creek municipal well field <br />provides water from shallow alluvial deposits and is located approximately <br />is five (5) miles upstream from the loadout area. <br />Groundwater Occurrence and Use. Essentially all of the lithologic units <br />in the mine and loadout areas can function as aquifers under favorable <br />conditions. However, only the Trinidad Sandstone and colluvial /alluvial <br />terrace and valley deposits can be considered as potential aquifers for <br />water supply purposes. The Trinidad Sandstone is approximately 300 -400 <br />feet below the interval to be effected by mining, while colluvial /alluvial <br />deposits are approximately 300 -600 feet above this interval in the mine <br />area and occur as surficial deposits in the loadout area. The extent and <br />location of these units are shown on the Regional Hydrogeology Map, (Map <br />5), the Mine Area Surface and Groundwater Hydrology Map, (Map 12) and the <br />Loadout Area Surface and Groundwater Hydrology Map, (Map 13). <br />The Trinidad Sandstone can serve as a marginal aquifer in this area, <br />however it outcrops approximately two (2) miles east of the mine area and <br />within the mine area is approximately three to four hundred feet below the <br />interval to be mined. The Trinidad Sandstone is separated from the <br />interval to be mined by a stratigraphic sequence consisting primarily of <br />interbedded and cross - bedded siltstones and shales which appear to have <br />2.05.6 -11 <br />