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• Lithic Ct~rthents These soils have a lithic contact within 50 cm of the soil surface and commonly at a depth appreciably less than 50 cm. The soils may be saturated with water above the lithic contact when snow melts, but because the watei is cold and is moving down the slope, reducing conditions are coo weak [o produce mottles of low chroma. This lithic subgroup is also allowed to have permafros[. Where rock is shallow, ice wedges and lenses must be thin or absent (1). The Starman soil series belongs [o the Lithic Cryorthent subgroup. SOIL CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES The mine property was divided into two sampling units. Land north of County Road 53 was sampled by the soil scientist at Yampa Mining Co. and land south of the road was sampled by VTN Colorado, Inc. Soil samples and description sites were selected by considering aspect, slope, vegetation, and previous soil classifiation by the SCS. Soil sampling sites were excavated to a depth of 152 cm (60 in.) or to bedrock by the use of a backhoe. Soil profiles were examined and described according to USDA Handbook No. 436, Soil Taxonomy. Exhibit T, HG Soil Survey Map, shows the soil mapping units and sampling locations for the mine permit area. The soil test results from the south side, which were analyzed by Colorado Analytical Labs, are shown in Table 2 and the soil sampling depths for each horizon are illustrated on Table 3. In regard • to providing sample depths on Table 2, [here tables were derived from soil horizons which were judged to be representative of that particular soil series. Therefore, the summary presented in Tables 2 and 3 are composite results from similaz horizons-of the same soil series. The analyses show a pH range of 6.5-8.2. There doesn't seem to be any trend of pH through the profile except tha[ the A horizon appears to have been leached as evidenced by a slightly lower pH. The electrical conductivity of the soils range from 0.3-1.1. From these results, none of the soil horizons have high enough concentrations of sal[s to affett even the most salt sensitive plants. The organic matter content is very high. This is significant since the organic matter supplies most of the nitrogen available to vegetation. The A horizon contains the highest amount of organic mater. Concentrations of organic matter range from 1.48.6%. The B horizon contains 2-4% less organic matter than the A horizons. Available phosphorus ranges from 434 ppm. The highest concentrations are in [he A horizons and generally get progressively less down through the profile. Available potassium ranges from 110-220 ppm. There isn't any pattern to the distribution of the potassium in any of the soil profiles. The saturation ranges from 46.9-61.2% depending on the [exture. Generally, the higher the amount of clay the higher the percentage of saturation. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) ranges from 0.8-2.6. These values indicate that sodium will not be a potential problem. Analytical results from soil samples taken on the north side of County Road 53 are shown in Table 4 and the soil descriptions are located in the appendix. pH values ranged from 5.8-7.3. The slightly acidic soils are located in the B horizon of several Routt series soils. The lower pH indicates a possible leaching out of carbonates. This does not pose any problems to reclamation since sufficient high quality A horizon is present for use in reclamation. The electrical conductivity ranges from 0.14-0.66. These values are very low and wouldn't adversley affect even the coos[ sensitive plants. Organic matter 1~