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Since the three main mineable seams (B, E, and F) on West Elk' s property <br /> directly overlie one another, their structural characteristics are virtually <br /> identical . The F seam strikes north 60 degrees west and dips three to five <br /> degrees northeast across the lease block. The major cleat orientation within <br /> the F seam is north 70 degrees east. This cleat is prominent and consistent <br /> throughout the existing F seam workings . Strike and dip of the B seam are <br /> similar to those of the F seam. The major cleat direction in the nearby <br /> Somerset Mine is North 75 degrees east. Strike and dip of the E seam are <br /> similar to those of the F and B seams . Fracture sets and cleat orientations <br /> are also the same. <br /> Only minor faulting of limited vertical displacement has been observed in the <br /> Blue Ribbon, Bear, and Hawk' s Nest Mines. However, in the Orchard Valley <br /> Mine, a fault with a displacement of 50 feet was encountered during mining. <br /> Drill hole data indicate the presence of other faults in the life-of-mine area <br /> with similar displacements. One major fault has been encountered in the <br /> Somerset Mine. The faults which have been encountered in existing mines tend <br /> to be high angle, normal faults. <br /> Climatological Information - Rules 2.4.8 <br /> Information regarding climate characteristics can be found in Section 2.04.3 <br /> and 2.04.8 of West Elk' s permit application. <br /> The mine site lies within the North Fork valley near Somerset, Colorado. At <br /> the mine site the valley is narrow and steep sided and follows a general <br /> east-west orientation. Considerable topographic variation across the mine <br /> site, and west central Colorado in general , results in marked fluctuation in <br /> seasonal and average precipitation and temperature values for the entire area. <br /> The mountains of the Continental Divide provide an effective barrier to the <br /> movement of moisture-laden air that reaches the eastern slope of the Rocky <br /> Mountains from the Gulf of Mexico. Under this influence, two basic types of <br /> climate, semi-arid and undifferentiated highlands, are characteristic of the <br /> general area where the mine is situated. Temperatures can range below <br /> freezing in the winter, and the summer, with the exception of higher <br /> elevations , can be extremely warm. The precipitation that does fall , <br /> originates from the Pacific Ocean weather systems , and most frequently occurs <br /> in the winter. <br /> Average annual precipitation ranges from approximately ten inches along the <br /> North Fork of the Gunnison River and the lower portion of Minnesota Creek to <br /> as much as 24 inches on the flanks of Mount Gunnison. The majority of <br /> precipitation falls as snow during the winter months , while the sparse summer <br /> precipitation consists of isolated thunderstorms . <br /> Soils - Rule 2.04.9 <br /> Soil Resource Information can be found in Section 2.04.9 in the permit <br /> application. More specific information relating to soil mapping units can be <br /> found in Section 2.4.9 as well as Exhibit 27 , Exhibit 28, Exhibit 29, and on <br /> Map 40 and 41 . <br /> _19- <br />