Laserfiche WebLink
,a' <br />~;j and are classed as marginal according to the Wyoming guidelines. These values were 0.268 and 0.612 <br />for sample points RC-6 (12-18") and RC-5 (0-6"), respectively. <br />The suspect level proposed by Schafer (1979) for Zn is 40 ppm. Values for the Juty samples range <br />t':.i from less than 0.1 to 19.5, indicating that all materials sampled are suitable with respect to this parameter. <br />~~~ A similar situation exists for Cu. The suspect level proposed for this parameter is 30 ppm (Sutton et al. <br />x 1981). The values for all samples collected during July ranged from 0.8-16.7, well below the suspect Level <br />~~~ value noted. <br />y 3.2.2 Physical Parameters <br />~a <br />Wyoming guidelines rank all soil textures as suitable for topsoil substitutes excepting clays, silty clays <br />and sand. Textures for the 60 samples collected were sandy looms, sandy clay looms, and sandy clays, <br />indicating that the textures of all materials sampled can be ranked as suitable. It should be noted that 57 <br />F~ percent of the samples collected in July, including the majority of the endemic soil material samples, <br />v; <br />e~ <br />exhibited sandy clay textures. In comparison to the numerous clay soil textures noted during sample <br />programs 1 through 5, tfie textures of the overburden materials are typica{ly of a better quality than the <br />~` endemic soil materials according to these guidelines. <br />The coarse fragment contents of the sampled profiles present a somewhat more varied situation. <br />Table 6 depicts the results of calculations regarding the coarse fragment content of the sample profiles, <br />ppG~ and the effect of such on water holding capacities (WHC). All sample depth increments for samples RC-1 <br />tot and RC-2 exhibit suitable coarse fragment content values with the exception of the 18 to 24 inch <br />increment of sample point RC-2. This "horizon" had a value of 35 percent which is classed as marginal. <br />r, <br />?3 Considering the coarse fragment content of the remainder of the sample profile, this is considered an <br />acceptable value and should not hinder reclamation efforts. Similarly, the upper 24 inches of sample point <br />RC-10 had suitable coarse fragment contents ranging from 20 to 25 percent. The depth increments <br />comprising the lower 24 inches had contents ranging from 30 to 40 percent with one marginal and one <br />unacceptable value. Given the quality of the upper 24 inches of seedbed material and the weighted <br />average coarse fragment content of the total profile (28.1 percent), this is considered a suitable material <br />for reclamation purposes. <br />Sample points RC-3 and RC-4 also have depth increments which, individually, would be classed as <br />unsuitable (see Appendix 2). However, the weighted average of coarse fragments for each sample profile <br />falls into the marginal class (30.0 percent and 32.5 percent). More importantly, the water holding <br />capacities of these profiles compare favorably with RC-1 and RC-2 which do not exhibit excessive coarse <br />fragment contents. Given that the maximum average monthly precipitation for the project area is 2.12 <br />inches (July) ,these profiles would be capable of storing, at the minimum, almost three times this amount <br />10 <br />