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of the overburden and interburden is predominantly very suitable (sandy <br />clay loam) with little variability across the mine site (Tables 6-6 and <br />6-7; Figures 6-3 and 6-5). Excessive clay levels were identified with <br />the same thin shale increment mentioned. previously in the saturation <br />percentage section. <br />No texture analysis was warranted for the Phase II samples collected <br />from Mine Areas 2 and 3. Textural properties can be inferred from thz <br />lithologic descriptions and saturation percentage values. <br />EC. Soluble salts influence the quantity of water available to plants <br />and total dissolved solids concentration in ground water. Salinity <br />levels are most critical during germination and most detrimental in hot <br />dry climates and on south facing slopes than in other landscape <br />positions. Salinity values for Phase I samples ranged from 0.5 to 8.7 <br />nimhos/cm (Tables 6-6 and 6-7). Similar mean salinity values of 2.6 and <br />3.4 mmhos/cm exist for the interburden and overburden, respectively. <br />Individual salinity values approached excessive levels in a few <br />instances (Figure 6-3 and 6-6) aria therefore EC analyses were detzrmined <br />on all samples collected from the scraper pits ai Nucla Kline. <br />Total Combustible Solids. The significance of determining the total <br />combustible solids content of overburden and interburden to assess <br />re vegetation potential or to evaluate potential impacts to water quality <br />could not be gleaned from recent literature. The total combustiblz <br />solids analysis is not justifiable for Nucla Mine. <br />Molybdenum. Mean plant available molybdenum levels for overburden and <br />interburden material collected during Phase I sampling are less than 1.2 <br />ppm (Tables 6-6 and 6-7; Figures 6-3 and 6-6). Molybdenum levels in <br />interburden were always less than 2.0 ppm while overhurden <br />concentrations range from less than 1.0 to 3.6 ppm. Twinned sa;nple <br />results (from recored offset holes) for sites 695E and 697E presented in <br />Appendix 6-4 showed that the initial samples were contaminated. Four <br />~• overburden samples, one front site 3C and three from site 775E, exceeded <br />the 2 ppm molybdenum suitability level. Both of these sites are located <br />outside of the projected mine disturbance limit. Barth et al. (1981) <br />recommends further testing when values greater than 2.0 ppin are <br />encountered. <br />r_vn oov;~a~l iiF/R7 <br />