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Another salient feature seen in the Nab data of Table VII <br />is that Na+ concentration of dissolved salts increase with • <br />depth of the interburden down tc, the X seam. In fact, the <br />greatest Na+ concentrations were recorded for samples 25, 2C, <br />23, 22, and 207.~wSodium ion concentrations are seen to range <br />between 3.5 and 7.1 meq./liter. Two questions now arise: <br />1. Are these higher Na levels considered too large, <br />normal, or low? <br />2. Would surface caater of equivalent concentrations <br />constitute a hazard to local stream quality? <br />Let us defer this question until the data for dissolved potassium, <br />calcium and magnesium have been discussed. <br />Referring once again to Table VII, column 4, one finds there <br />extraction data for potassium ions.' It is readily seen that <br />a..>~. <br />KT concentrations in samples 38, 37, and 36 are among the lowest, <br />ranging from 0.05 to 0.22 meq./liter. In tie lower strata, the • <br />K+ level increases slightly and reaches a maximum of 0.64 meq./liter <br />in sample 33--a layer of shale, not a particularly la roe amount of <br />K+ by any standard. <br />Calcium contents, appearing in column 5, are seen to fluctuate ir. <br />concentration and do not appear to have any relationship to depth. <br />According to the data, calcium levels range between a minimum <br />of 0.59 meq./liter and a maximum of 3.60 meq./liter, not considered <br />unusually high by the author. However, it.is notecaorthy <br />that higher calcium concentrations, >1.4 meq,/liter, do correlate <br />with extractions from shale portions of interburden. <br />Next, consider the magnesium levels found in the extract <br />solutions. According to the table, column b, magnesium concentrations <br />range from a minimum of rero, in sample extracts 22, 23, and 24, <br />to a maximum of 5.85 meq,/liter for sample extract 33. Those <br />solutions showing maximum dissoluCion of magnesium, ranging <br />• <br />r:, ~ - <br />between 1.78 and 5.85 meq./liter also appear in extracts <br />from shales. Extract solutions containing the lesser amounts of <br />1•ig~ arc genci;~ll.y from sandstone inCcrburdcn sections. <br />