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RULE 2 PERMITS <br /> <br />Rule 2 Permits 2.04-10 Revision Date: 6/4/25 <br /> Revision No.: MR-264 <br />by dips from nearly horizontal to as much as 20 ° to the north. As the mine advances southward, <br />the structure is influenced by the Elkhorn Syncline and a change in attitude of the structure occurs <br />resulting in an eastward dip and nearly north-south strike. Local deviations in this general trend <br />are the result of discontinuous minor folds resulting from differential compaction. <br /> <br />During geologic mapping, there was no evidence of faulting in the rock units within the mining <br />area; however, some linear features that may be fault controlled were observed on aerial <br />photographs of the property. Such lineations may also be related to joints (fractures without <br />appreciable movement) in the rock. Three major joint trends that generally coincide with these <br />lineations were observed within the permit area. These are nearly vertical or vertical and strike <br />approximately north 70° west, north 45° west, and north 30° east. In surface exposures, sandstone <br />exhibits joints more readily than highly oxidized and weathered coal beds do; however, both have <br />undergone similar stresses and have developed similar readjustment features that are apparent in <br />the subsurface. <br /> <br />The site specific stratigraphy is described in Exhibit 6, Geological Information, and is graphically <br />shown on the Geologic Cross Section A-A’ (Map 8) and the Geologic Cross Section B-B' (Map <br />9). Three additional geologic cross sections (C-C', D-D', and E-E') that show the coal seam <br />geometry and pit limits are provided in Map 9A. The topographic locations of the geological cross <br />sections are found on the Geology Map (Map 7A). <br /> <br />The coal seams to be mined at the Colowyo operation are the “Y3“,“Y2“,“X“,“A2“,“A3“,“B1“, <br />“C“, “D“, “E“, and “F“ coal seams. These coal seams are found in the Williams Fork Formation <br />and lie within a sequence of sedimentary rocks characterized by sandstones, claystones, siltstones, <br />shales and carbonous and silty shales. This sedimentary sequence is typical of cyclothems <br />deposited along the linear clastic shoreline located at the western edge of an epicontinental seaway <br />which was located in interior western North America during most of Late Cretaceous time. <br /> <br />The analyses of the various coal seams to be mined are shown in Table 2.04.6-1, Typical Coal <br />Seam Analyses. <br /> <br />Exploration test borings have been conducted within the permit area and have been utilized for the <br />following purposes: <br /> <br />Location of Subsurface Water - Since the holes were generally dry, the primary circulation medium <br />for most exploration bore holes drilled within the mine plan area was either compressed air or <br />drilling mud when fractures were encountered. Several drill holes throughout the area encountered <br />minor amounts of ground water; however, all of the data obtained to date by Colowyo and the <br />USGS have indicated that groundwater occurrences in the are not continuous but rather are a series <br />of perched systems. Information on groundwater occurrence is set forth under Section 2.04.7. <br /> <br />Drill Hole Logs - Exhibit 6, Geological Information, contains numerous lithologic logs which <br />show and describe the lithologic characteristics and thickness of each strata and each coal seam. <br />The location of each drill hole presented in Exhibit 6, Geological Information, is shown on the <br />Geology Map (Map 7A). <br />