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In addition to evaluation of specific groundwater quality parameters, <br />EFCI, utilizing all available groundwater monitoring data, converted <br />concentrations of major ions to milliequivalents per litre and plotted the <br />resulting information on Figure 6, Trilinear Diagram - Mine Area <br />Groundwater. As graphically illustrated by this figure, groundwater <br />within the mine area is typically a weak sodium sulfate chemical type. <br />The influence of relatively high bicarbonate values is evident in the <br />location of the plotted chemical type near the axis for mixed water types. <br />Groundwater Summary. Groundwater resources in the mine, loadout, and <br />adjacent areas are limited in both extent and quantity. While most of the <br />stratigraphic units found in these areas have the capability to store and <br />transmit groundwater, none can be considered as aquifers due to limited <br />lateral continuity and the dominance of low permeability shales and <br />siltstones in the stratigraphic sequence. Groundwater occurrence is <br />generally limited to alluvial deposits in major area drainage, isolated <br />• perched groundwater reservoirs in the Poison Canyon, Raton and Vermejo <br />Formations, and most significantly, artificial storage reservoirs created <br />by abandoned underground mine workings. <br />The lack of a uniform piezometric surface in the mine area reflects <br />geologic variability and other factors. Groundwater movement is generally <br />controlled by the configuration of the structural basin with flows toward <br />the axis and along the plunge of the Chandler Creek Syncline. Groundwater <br />movement is generally limited by low recharge rates, lack of stratigraphic <br />continuity and low hydraulic conductivities. Groundwater is generally of <br />a sodium sulfate chemical type and quality is highly variable. Area <br />groundwater has a neutral pH, however, sodium, sulfate and iron values are <br />typically high, limiting groundwater suitability to industrial, <br />agricultural and limited domestic uses. <br />Known groundwater use within the hydrologic basin is generally limited to <br />recovery of shallow groundwater from alluvial wells for municipal water <br />• use and pumping of water stored in abandoned underground mine workings for <br />industrial and stock watering use. While use from other sources does <br />occur, the number of users and yields from these sources are both minimal. <br />2.04.7-18 <br />