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Permeability is rapid, and the available water capacity is very low. Runoffis rapid, and the hazard ofwater erosion is moderate." "Typically, 40 to 65 percent of the surface is covered with vegetation and forest litter. The surface layer is brown gravelly coarse sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The next layer is yellowish brown very gravelly loamy coarse sand about 8 inches thick. Highly weathered, coarse grained granite, or gnus, is below a depth of about 12 inches." "About 5 percent of this unit is included areas of Garber very gravelly coarse sandy loam on mountainsides, commonly adjacent to drainageways; 10 percent is soils that have a surface layer that is darker than that of the Sphinx soil; and 5 percent is areas of outcrop of Pikes Peak granite on mountainsides and ridges." "This soil is best suited to wildlife habitat, watershed, recreation, and limited timber production. Because of the aspect and climatic conditions, it is somewhat more heavily vegetated than the warm phase of the Sphinx series. It is very susceptible to erosion if the cover of plants and forest litter is disturbed. The major limitations affecting the production and harvest of timber are a high susceptibility to erosion, low natural fertility, and the depth to bedrock." I concur with the above statements from the NRCS and add my observations below to further clarify. The Pikes Peak granite outcrops on about 10 percent of the areas of the claim areas Some areas presently have no soil because they are disturbed areas and the soil has previously been removed. Soil is also absent on numerous rock outcroppings which are where several of the dig sites are located (The pegmatites are in and around rock outcroppings). Other areas are gravel slopes where soil is minimal or near absent. Erosion is apparent on these slopes and in these areas. The areas with the deepest soils are located under mature pines where, locally, there can be deep layers of duff and decomposing needles in those areas not burned by the Hayman fire. The average soil in undisturbed dig sites is typically shallow (to 4 inches) with poorly defined subsoils (to 8 inches total). The soils are ganitic in composition and therefore, both permeable and porous. Severe rain wilt create erosion in these soils; however, most precipitation is rapidly absorbed and runoff is minimal. These soils are most susceptible to erosion during flash flooding caused by heavy thunderstorms.