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CRYSTAL PIT <br />On the forested hillsides which face more northerly the soil is <br />• far better, but still variable and generally poor in quality. Where <br />the forest vegetation is strongly dominated by conifers the soil is of <br />poor quality. It is generally a gravelly sandy loam quite similar <br />physically to the soils on the south facing slopes, but with a much <br />greater organic matter content. In general the soil has a depth range <br />from about 2 inches to 5 inches. Quite characteristic of these soils <br />is a tremendous abundance of tree roots which in places can form a <br />dense network within the first few inches of the surface. Although <br />not much of the soil in these forested areas will be disturbed, where <br />it is disturbed it would be worthwhile salvaging as much of the soil <br />as possible, along with the tree roots. This soil, although it would <br />not produce an excellent growth medium, would help to hold the exposed <br />decomposed gravels and reduce erosion. <br />Where aspen tends to dominate, the soil properties are much <br />batter. It is generally deeper (about 6 to B inches), contains high <br />organic matter contents, an abundance of tree roots and supports grass <br />growth along with the tree growth. The soil from the aspen dominated <br />• areas would definitely be worthwhile salvaging for use in reclamation. <br />In the bottom of the drainage courses, the soils are similar to <br />the aspen forest soil, but tend to exhibit tremendous variability and <br />blending with adjacent soils, depending upon the aspect and vegetation <br />of the adjacent hillsides. Where the slope blends into a southerly <br />facing area the soil rapidly thins and becomes gravelly similar to the <br />soils present on the south facing slopes. Where the drainage bottom <br />blends into a more northerly facing slope the changes in the soil <br />composition tend to be more gradual becoming whatever is the nature of <br />the soil on the hillside forest areas. <br />Because most of the operation will occur on the south facing <br />grassland slopes, little soil will be available Tor salvage from those <br />areas. Extraction in the drainage bottom and on the north facing <br />slopes (where mining will be the least) will provide more opportunity <br />for soil salvage. But even there the amount of soil which is <br />obtainable will be strongly limited and probably insufficient to make <br />• up far the unavailability of soil on the south facing slopes. <br />Therefore, the reclamation plan should utilize a prioritization scheme <br />8 <br />