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~ ~ IV pCPLI' RifEp TO <br />~~ ~--~ United States Departrxlent of the Interior 3400 (161> <br />~ 1'yi+~'/~l <br />•+~~~={~~' BUREAU OF LAND t,1ANAGEM ENT <br />••• ~a-,~ <br />~. ~ .: cR wc, DISIRICr o(Elcr <br />LITTLE 6~AAE RESOURCE .1R C:1 <br />1 _'80 INDCSiR L1L A\ f ~'C( <br />P.O. U()1 7136 <br />CRAIG. COLORADO 816? 6 <br />August 28, 1981 <br />• <br />Colol:yo Coal Company <br />ATTV: Dale Thompson <br />5731 State Highway 13 <br />?feeker, Colorado 81641 <br />Deat *ir. Thompson: <br />This letter is in response to your request for a paleontological <br />classification that covers the mine plan area contained in T. 3 :1., <br />R. 93 W., Sections 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11. It is our determination that <br />the lands will be classified as follows: <br />Class II: There is evidence of fossils, but the presence of fossils <br />of scientific value has not been established and is not anticipated. <br />Detailed study may be desirable in the future for the evaluation of <br />all types of fossil collecting. <br />The formation that outcrops in this area is the Williams Fork Formation <br />which makes up the upper part of the Alesaverde Group and is of Upper <br />Cretaceous Age. The formation is approxir:ately 1,100 feet thick in the <br />area and fossil collections show that marine, brackish-water, and fresh- <br />water environments alternated during the time of deposition. Inverte- <br />brates (i.e., ammonites, Inoceramus clams, etc.) along with shark teeth <br />are found in the marine environment. The coal-bearing strata contain <br />leaf impressions in the coals and possible vertebrate re-~a's:s in the <br />non-marine strata. A cast o; a dinosaur footprint Boas found associated <br />c:ith coal in the Williams Fork Formation and it i~ for this mason that <br />Class II has been applied to the Plesaverde Group in this region. The <br />probability of finding fossils of significant scientific interest is <br />slight but the possibility still exists. <br />A detailed study follow-up is not needed for the si.e in question but <br />subsequent special stipulations for paleontology will be followed since <br />the finding of fossils of significance is possible. This includes the <br />protection of such fossils and the notification of the Regional Director <br />or the District :lining Supervisor. <br />Sincerely, <br />• <br />CONSERVE <br />AMERICA'S <br />I ENEROV <br />~n <br />{_~}C~~~lis r_ <br />Acting Area I•fanager <br />Little Sr.ake Resource Area <br />SaL~e Energy and You Ser1'e America! <br />~ •~. <br />~L, <br />c_- <br />i• <br />.:;; <br />. Y.~ <br />:~ <br />r~. <br />F'~~' <br /> <br />