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<br />3.0 SOIL SUITABILITY FOR RECLAMATION USES <br />3.1 Physical and Chemical Properties of Soils <br />Each horizon of each major soil was tested in the laborataory for <br />chemical properties significant to reclamation. Tests were conducted <br />by the Agricultural Consultants Inc, in Brighton, Colorado. The <br />laboratory test results (and methods) are reported in the appendix. <br />The soils were tested for the following parameters: <br />o pH <br />o Electrical Conductivity <br />0 Saturation percent <br />o Soluble Na, Ca, Mg <br />o SAR <br />o Texture <br />o Percent sand, silt, clay and very fine sand <br />o Organic matter <br />Table 3.1-1 gives criteria for evaluating soil as a reclamation <br />• material. The criteria are pH, electrical conductivity, saturation <br />percent, SAR, calcium carbonate, texture, coarse fragments, and moist <br />and dry consistence. The critical parameters that can render a <br />material unsuitable are pH, electrical conductivity, SAR and large <br />coarse fragments (3 to 10" and greater than 10"). <br />Soils were not tested for calcium carbonate. Based on field <br />observations. only one sample exceeds 15Z calcium carbonate. Soils <br />were not tested for boron and selenium. There were no salty soils so <br />boron is unlikely to occur above trace levels. There were no <br />indicator species reported so selenium was not determined. Physical <br />properties significant to reclamation are coarse fragments and <br />consistence. These properties were described in the field and are <br />reported in the detailed pedon descriptions in the appendix. <br />• <br />13 <br />