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~ S~ III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII <br />' EXHIBIT I SOIL RESOURCES ~l_ ~/~ <br />I.I Existing Conditions <br />The soil types on the project area are related to topography, <br />' major drainage patterns, and rock or alluvium substrate. Soils are <br />variable from a deep sandy loam on the alluvial flats and fans along <br />' the western border of the foothills to a thin, mixed clay and loam <br />complex on the slopes of the mine pit area. In most areas, the soil <br />types reflect the basic parent material, either bedrock or alluvium. <br />' The dominant features in this area are the Rito Seco, the surrounding <br />foothills, and lower mountain slopes. <br />' The SCS has not published a soil survey for this part of <br />' Costilla County, but has designated and mapped preliminary soil <br />types for the area encompassing the project area. The information <br />' available from the SCS was used as a basis for the soils information <br />in this report. <br />' A more detailed soil survey was initiated by consultants to <br />Battle Mountain in August 1988 to confirm the SCS-designated soil <br />1 types, determine their distribution, and assess the depths and <br />characteristics of the soils for suitability as topsoil in site <br />t eclamation. The project site was traversed and aerial photographs <br />at a scale of approximately 1"=1200' were used to delineate and map <br />' soil types. Soil profiles were examined for texture, depth, and <br />other characteristics affecting the quality of soil. <br />i I.2 Soil Resources Present <br />' Five soil mapping units were identified and mapped within the <br />project area, consisting of three soil series and two soil complexes. <br />' These five soils are mapped on Figure I-1, and listed ~n Table I.2- <br />1. A description of each soil unit is presented below. For each unit, <br />' the description provides basic information such as topographic <br />position, predominant soil or soils in each unit, and general soil <br /> <br />