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r1 <br />LJ <br />• <br /> <br />The cross section extension and the new cross section H-H' are based on coal exploration holes <br />drilled by Western Fuels-Colorado during 1993. Figure 2.04.6-1 was prepared using information <br />obtained by geologists, hydrologists, and soil scientists during the baseline studies conducted <br />during 1986 and 1987. Stratigraphic correlation of individual driller's logs in Maps 2.04.6-2 through <br />2.04.6-5 proved to be difficult, and at times, confusing because of the wide variation in driller's <br />terminology. Only the principle stratigraphic units (i.e., coal seams, sandstone, shale, etc.) were <br />correlated in these cross sections. The principal coal seam being mined is the #2 or lower Dakota <br />coal seam. One localized area of upper Dakota coal (#1 seam), which includes Drill Hole Location <br />871 E, may be mined in this permit term. These seams lie within the "middle" Dakota lithologic unit <br />described by Young (1973), and are characterized by carbonaceous shale and impure coal with <br />lessor amounts of interbedded sandstone and siltstone. Basically, these coals are high BTU, low <br />sulfur bituminous coals that show good lateral continuity. Each seam shows swell-defined system <br />of vertical to near vertical joints (coal "cleats") at the outcrop. These joints are less evident in core <br />samples indicating a lower porosity than would be expected by outcrop examination. Fractures of <br />this sort are highly anisotropic. <br />The upper Dakota (#1) seam generally ranges from 0.6 to 2.1 feet (partings omitted) in thickness <br />with an average of about 1.2 feet and lies approximately 99 feet from the base of the Dakota. The <br />lower Dakota (#2) seam generally ranges from 4.2 to 6.9 feet (partings omitted) in thickness with <br />an average of about 5.5 feet and lies approximately 86 feet from the base of the Dakota. There <br />is approximately 7.5 feet of interburden separating these seams within the New Horizon 2 permit <br />area. A 0.4 foot laterally discontinuous "rider" coal seam is found about 7.2 feet above the upper <br />Dakota coal seam in some parts of the permit area. Two additional coal seams, the Nucla (#3) <br />seam and an unnamed seam, are present in the New Horizon 2 study area. The Nucla seam <br />typically ranges from 1.5 to 3.6 feet (partings omitted) in thickness with an average of about 2.5 <br />feet and lies approximately 56 feet from the base of the Dakota. The laterally discontinuous <br />unnamed coal seam generally ranges from 0.5 to 1.6 feet in thickness with an average of about <br />1.0 feet and lies approximately 24 feet from the base of the Dakota. <br />Sandstone and sandy shale are the predominant lithologies in overburden material within the New <br />Horizon 2 study area. The sandstones are generally fine to medium grained, of low porosity, well <br />cemented, lenticular, discordant, and crossbedded. Most sandstones on outcrop show a <br />well-defined system of iron stained joints and fractures. Continuous horizontal gypsum lenses <br />REVISED August 2006 2.04.6-9 <br />