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<br />'~ becember 1986 12 863-2052 <br />The Williams Fork units sampled during the recent field investi- <br />gation are typical of the sandstone, siltstone, and claystone <br />sequence present above the Wadge and Wolf Creek seams. The <br />sandstones encountered in the five borings are typically fine <br />grained, strong, moderately to slightly weathered, and are often <br />cemented with calcite. The claystones encountered are more <br />highly weathered and are poorly indurated relative to the sand- <br />stone. However, no low shear-strength claystone samples which <br />would potentially affect foundation stability were obtained from <br />the five borings. The siltstones encountered are moderately <br />indurated relative to the sandstone and claystone. Discontinui- <br />ties observed in the rock units sampled are not considered sig- <br />nificant in terms of their impact upon foundation stability. <br />The only known fault within the mining area strikes approximately <br />perpendicular to the toe of the spoil structure (Figure 2). It <br />is unlikely that this or any other faulting would influence the <br />stability of the excess spoil. <br />4.3 Soil Conditions <br />Reconnaissance of the excess spoil area indicates that minor <br />surficial slumps are present in colluvial soils in the vicinity <br />of B-1 (Figure 2). No other areas of slope instability were <br />observed by aerial photo and field reconnaissance of the excess <br />spoil area. Both slumps shown on Figure 2 are apparently shallow- <br />seated features which have developed in loose slope-wash mate- <br />rials which mantle the Williams Fork bedrock in this area. The <br />surficial slump located in the drainage west of B-1 is associated <br />with a seep near the center of the drainage. Since all topsoil <br />and subsoil will be stripped in the excess spoil structure <br />foundation areas prior to mining, existing soil conditions are of <br />limited importance for the stability of the excess spoil struc- <br />ture. <br />Golder Associates <br />