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glance, it would appear that Seneca II-W overburden is more acidic. Ninety-two percent of . <br />the acidic portions of the Seneca 11 overburden are between a pH range of 6.0 and 7.0; <br />whereas, only 77 percent of the acidic portions of the Seneca II-W overburden are between <br />the 6.0 to 7,0 pH range. Some or all of this difference could be attributed to the fact <br />that almost twice as many cores were analyzed at Seneca II-W and only two of the Seneca II <br />cores penetrated the Lennox coal. Seven of the Seneca II-W cores included the Lennox coal <br />and all of the acidic portions < pH 6 were associated with the Lennox and the immediately <br />overlying and underlying shales. The percentage of all cores with material < pH 6 is <br />minimal and the ABP accounting indicates that the associated overburden material exhibits <br />a very high neutralization potential. Resultant spoil water at Seneca II-YI is not <br />expected to have a pH of less than 7.0. The mean pH value for the spoil aquifer at Seneca <br />II is 7.5 and individual samples have never shown a pH below 7.1. <br />A comparison of the physical characteristics (particle sizes) permits hydrologic <br />inferences to be drawn. The percent sand, silt, and clay fraction of each core at Seneca <br />II-W and Seneca II was determined. The values for each core are presented in Table 17-7. <br />The sand percentage in Seneca II-W cores is ten percent lower than at Seneca II. Thus, <br />the corresponding silt and clay percentages in the Seneca II-W overburden are higher. • <br />This provides a general indication of the parent material differences between the two <br />mines. Seneca II-W likely has a higher percentage of shale in the overburden material <br />than does Seneca II. As was the case with the comparison of paste pH's, a greater number <br />of cores were analyzed at Seneca II-W and only two of the Seneca II cores penetrated the <br />Lennox coal and its associated shale layers. The apparent particle size differences may <br />not be as much as the core data suggest. Based on the particle size data available, <br />Seneca II-W spoil is expected to have lower infiltration rates and horizontal hydraulic <br />conductivities than Seneca II spoil. The cation exchange potential in the overburden <br />aquifer and spoil at Seneca II-W should be greater because of the higher percentage of <br />clays present. <br />Thirty-one chemical parameters were evaluated in cores at Seneca II and II-Vl. Tables 17-8 <br />and 17-9 present a summary of the mean weighted concentrations of each measured parameter <br />in each of the cares and the mean weighted concentrations of parameters when considering <br />the total length of all cores at each mine. A comparison of the major cations and anions <br />analyzed in cores at each mine indicate that there is twice as much sodium present in the <br />overburden at Seneca II and approximately twice as much calcium, magnesium, and sulfate • <br />present in the overburden at Seneca II-W. In evaluating the sulfur species, there is 1.7 <br />22 <br />