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<br />It was found that invading species richness was greatest in the control <br />(burned) area, with 26 species of vascular plants identified. Second most <br />rich in invading species were the borrow area (seeded in 1974) and the <br />tailing seeded in 1975 where 19 species each were found. The Henderson Mine <br />roadcut and tailing seeded in 1976 have ten and eight invading species, <br />respectively. The tailing seeded in 1977 had no invading species. <br />Apparently, the invasion process does not progress appreciably until several <br />years after seeding. After the invasion process had begun o~n the older <br />seeded areas, the number of species invading was observed to be ~~roportional <br />to time since seeding. Considering both planted species and invading <br />species, frequency of plants encountered increased with length oi` time since <br />seeding. <br />Evaluation of canopy cover by species showed that smooth brume (Bromus <br />inermis), timothy (Phleum pratense), and hard fescue (Festuca ovina var. <br />duriuscula) constituted most of the cover in seeded areas. Although in the <br />earlier seeded areas substantial invasion of natives was occurring, cover <br />provided by these species was minimal at the time of observation. <br />The great productivity of smooth brume, timothy, and hard fescue resulted in <br />higher overall observed production values for all seeded areas than for the <br />control area. <br />9.1.10 Research on Nutrient Regimes in Waste Rock with Amendments <br />The chemical compositon of waste rock used in reclamation was monitored by <br />M.J. Trlica of CSU beginning at the time of its placement over the tailing <br />at Urad in 1975. Samples for anlaysis were removed each year thereafter, <br />following the addition of sewage sludge, wood chips, and seed. samples were <br />a composite of the upper 30 cm (12 in.) of waste rocks. Individual <br />laboratory testing was carried out for the following constitutents and <br />parameters: pH, conductivity, lime, organic matter, nitrate, nitrogen, <br />phosphorous, potassium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, <br />sodium, total nitrogen, lead, molybdenum, arsenic, aluminum, fluoride, and <br />18 <br />