Laserfiche WebLink
GEOCHEMICAL STUDY PLAN <br /> <br />OBJECTIVES <br />Rule 2.04.6 of the CDMG regulation <br />states that "The description shall include a <br />statement of the geology within the proposed <br />area to be affected over the life of the <br />operation down to and including the first <br />aquifer and other coal seams, in any, below <br />the lowest coal seam to be mined." The <br />objectives of the geochemical study are to <br />describe the physical and chemical <br />characteristics of overburden materials that <br />are going to be disturbed by surface mining <br />in the proposed project and to adequately <br />describe the roof, floor, and coal and <br />overburden materials that are going to be <br />exposed by underground mining. <br />METHODOLOGY <br />There are several groundwater wells that <br />are planned which will penetrate the <br />materials above and below the coal seams for <br />the underground mines. At these locations, <br />chip samples will be taken in the four-foot <br />intervals both ten feet above and ten feet <br />below the coal. A core sample of the roof, <br />floor, and coal will also be acquired from <br />each hole. Data from these locations is <br />expected to adequately describe the site <br />geochemistry because the results from past <br />analysis indicate a general homogeneity over <br />the site. <br />Only one area exists where overburden <br />materials are expected to be disturbed by <br />implementation of the proposed project. This <br />is where the surface mine will be located. <br />Two holes will be drilled (rotary) in this <br />location and core samples will be taken at <br />target intervals for analysis. <br />The data necessary for geochemical <br />descriptions will be obtained by collecting a <br />limited number of samples in the field and <br />analyzing these samples for the appropriate <br />parameters. The samples will be obtained <br />during a drilling program to be conducted <br />early in 1996. <br />SAMPLING <br />The CDMG Guideline for the Collection <br />of Baseline Water Quality and Overburden <br />Geochemistry recommend sampling one hole <br />per square mile, with a minimum of three <br />holes. The development of multiple <br />underground mines in two seams will require <br />acquisition of data from at least six holes. <br />ANALYSIS <br />All of the samples that are collected for <br />geochemical determinations will be analyzed <br />for the parameters defined in the CDMG <br />Guideline. These include: <br />pH; <br />Conductivity; <br />Total Combustible Solids <br />Saturation Percentage; <br />SAR; <br />ESP <br />Lithologic Classification; <br />Textural Analysis; <br />Sulfur; <br />pyrite sulfur <br />sulfate sulfur <br />4 <br />