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Peabody Central Laboratory for the added parameters are listed in Appen- • <br />dix 6-4, Table 2. <br />Mean overburden and underburden values were determined for each pa- <br />rameter for individual core holes. The ten core holes were also averaged to <br />determine the mean parameter values for the entire Seneca Mine. This <br />information is listc~d in Appendix 6-4, Tables 3 and 4. <br />3.0 Discussion of Results by Parameter <br />The following discussion evaluates each parameter determined from the <br />Seneca core material. Mean values are not stated for the overburden and <br />underburden cores but can be found in Appendix 6-4, Tables 3 and 4. <br />3.1 Conductivity (Salt) <br />Plant growth is highly responsive to the salt content of the growth medium. <br />Saline soils (~ mmhos/cm) often restrict the growth of most plants. The salt <br />content of the spoil medium also influences the total dissolved solid level of <br />the ground water. The conductivity in the overburden ranges from 0.1 to • <br />6.6 mmhos/cm while in the underburden it ranges from 0.3 to 5.3 <br />mmhos/cm. Salinity levels in the Wadge and Wolf Creek areas are similar. <br />Levels are lowest at the ground surface where rock parent materials have <br />weathered allowing salts to be leached to a deeper depth in the overburden <br />profile. Salinity levels are less than I mmhos/cm in the upper 0-30 foot <br />overburden section where sandstone predominates. Salt levels are between 3 <br />and 5 mmhos/cm in the 0 to 10 foot overburden section where shale pre- <br />dominate. Salinity levels are highest in the southern part of the permit area <br />where shales predominate. <br />No salinity problems are anticipated during spoiling or reclamation since <br />conductivity levels did not exceed the 8.0 mmhos/cm unsuitable level. <br />3.2 pH (Paste and Paste Extract) <br />Soil reaction or pH is particulary important to plants because it influences <br />the nutrient availability for plant adsorption and the plant-available concen- • <br />r+ov 2 a Issi <br />tration of toxic ions. The pH also influences the chemical exchanges be- <br />tween the spoil medium and percolating ground water. The pH level in the <br />6-140 <br />