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West Elk Mine <br /> <br />2.04-134 Rev. 01/94- PR05, 08/94- TR71, 06/95- PR06, 03/06- PR10;02/22- MR460 <br /> <br />percent slope may be very stable whereas the same unit on a 30 percent slope may have a <br />considerable potential to slide. <br /> <br />From the standpoint of soil character alone, the soils of units 5, 17, 30, X30, 31, X31, and X32 have <br />the greatest potential for mass movement. Units 30 and X30 have the lowest potential and have <br />been listed primarily because in some landscapes they tend to be finer textured in the lower solum <br />and C horizon than would be anticipated by their family classification which is based on a weighted <br />average of the B2t horizon. <br /> <br /> Soil Productivity <br /> <br />In their natural undisturbed state, most of the soils of the area are suitable for growing natural <br />vegetation. Natural fertility decreases with depth in most soils of the area and is not adequate for <br />vigorous growth in the lower solum and C horizons. Even though natural fertility seems to be <br />adequate in the upper horizons of many soils, it is believed that some supplemental fertilization <br />should be applied to all seedbeds to insure the best possible growth during early states of <br />reclamation. <br /> <br />The soils of the area have moderate to strong grades of natural soil structure. The preservation of as <br />much of the soils' original structure as is possible during the disturbance, transportation and <br />redistribution of these earths is considered an important management goal in all of the soils and is <br />extremely important in the use of some of the finer textured ones. <br /> <br />The productivity and capability of each mapping unit to support a variety of uses can be related <br />directly to that soil's suitability as a topsoil material. Table 23 and the mapping unit descriptions <br />provide such information for each unit. <br /> <br /> Quantitative Soil Analysis <br /> <br />Table 23 is a breakdown of the soil occurring on the survey area and an assessment of their <br />topsoiling suitability, stripping depth, and general limitations. Average topsoil stripping depths are <br />based on the depth of material appearing suitable for topsoiling material when holes were augered <br />during mapping. <br /> <br />Table 23 Summary of Topsoil Suitability and Availability on the West Elk Mine Affected Area <br /> <br /> <br />Mapping Unit <br />General <br />Suitability <br />Average Depth <br />of Topsoil <br />(inches) <br /> <br />Soil Texture <br /> <br />Limiting Factors <br />Work (83) Good 6 l-cl Clay texture below 6” <br />Fughes (39) Fair 20 cl-c Clay texture below 20” <br />Beenom (13) –Absarokee Fair 10 cl Coarse fragments below 10’ <br />Absarokee (2) –Work Fair 30 cl-c Clay texture lower part of solum <br />Torriorthents (75) Poor-fair Variable scl Rock fragments <br /> <br />