Laserfiche WebLink
piezometric head about equal to that observed in all strata <br />above, <br />The observation of approximately equal piezometric <br />heads in all water bearing strata from the Trout Creek <br />Sandstone to the surface at a particular locale is not <br />completely understood. It is probable that vertical <br />hydraulic communication between strata is sufficient to <br />keep the piezometric heads approximately equal on a <br />particular vertical line, given the very long time <br />intervals available for equilibration. Regardless of the <br />explanation, approximately equal piezometric heads in <br />different strata makes it possible to assign a single value <br />to the piezometric surface at a particular point, and <br />therefore, permits the measurement of head in a specific <br />. interval to be assigned to the over-all stratigraphic <br />profile. <br />Based on the above reasoning, all piezometric surface <br />data available to 'us was utilized to prepare a regional <br />piezometric surface map. Wells as far north as Energy <br />Fuels' Pit No. 3 were utilized as were several points along <br />the Trout Creek valley up to the.most southwest extent of <br />the Pittsburgh 5 Midway Edna Mine. The average static water <br />levels were used regardless of the specific completion <br />details of individual wells. An important feature of this <br />map is that it appears the piezometric surface elevation is <br />• largely controlled by the elevation of Trout Creek on the <br />east and south. In the vicinity of Energy Fuels' Pit No. 3, <br />the piezometric surface is a few feet above Trout Creek. <br />As indicated previously, there are no data directly in <br />the area to be mined by Sunland and the piezometirc surface <br />elevation in the vicinity of the Apex Mine was established <br />by extrapolation and the assumption that' the piezometric <br />surface elevation along Trout Creek continues to be <br />controlled by the stream elevation (approximately). The <br />piezometric surface elevation directly to the .north of the <br />Apex Mine was estimated from a flowing well with no casing.(*1) <br />It is not possible to determine from which interval the <br />water is flowing, but the apparent value of piezometric <br />head at this point fits well with that value extrapolated <br />from measured points. Futhermore, since this well <br />penetrates strata below the Trout Creek Sandstone, it <br />provides additional evidence that the piezometric heads <br />measured in overlying strata may be representative of that <br />in the underlying rocks. <br />The superposition of coal and piezometric surface <br />elevations show that most of the coal .to be mined lies <br />:.above the piezometric surface. All of the Upper Pinnacle <br />seam within the lease boundaries in fault blocks 1. and 2 <br />. lies above the piezometric surface. The areas in which the <br />coal apparently .lies below the piezometric surface are: <br />Rev; 4-22-81 <br /> <br />