Laserfiche WebLink
Geologic Features <br />The proposed exploration area is underlain by sedimentary rocks <br />of the Mesaverde Group. The Mesaverde Group, Late Cretaceous in age, is <br />divided into two units, the Iles Formation and the Williams Fork Formation. <br />Interbedded sandstones, shales and coal seams of the Lower Coal Group <br />characterize the lower portion of the Iles Formation. The upper portion is <br />the massive, cliff-forming Trout Creek Sandstone Member. Immediately <br />overlying the Trout Creek Sandstone is the Williams Fork Formation <br />consisting of interbedded sandstones, shales and major coal seams of the <br />Middle Coal Group. The illustration (Figure A) on the following page <br />describes the stratigraphy of the coa] bearing section of interest in <br />detail. <br />The proposed exploration area lies on the northerly dipping south <br />flank of the Hart Syncline. Dips are approximately 8 to 100. Major <br />faulting is confined to the east-west trending Monument Butte Fault. The <br />eastern extension of the fault lies in the western extreme of the <br />application area. <br />Gently to moderately inclined dip slopes are dissected by <br />northeast/southwest trending stream cuts which provide several hundred feet <br />of relief. Elevations vary between 7000 and 8600 feet above sea level. <br />Surface and Groundwater <br />Precipitation amounts in the area range from 13 to 16 inches per <br />year. Craig, Colorado, 15 miles to the north, receives an average of 13.78 <br />inches per year while Meeker, Colorado, 26 miles to the southwest, receives <br />an average of 15.79 inches per year. <br />The proposed exploration area lies in the drainage area of three <br />major creeks, all of which are either primary or secondary tributaries of <br />the Williams Fork River. Badger Creek drains the northwestern portion, <br />Deer Creek drains the extreme western and southern portions, and Waddle <br />Creek drains the rest of the area. Several small ponds and reservoirs, <br />less than one acre in size, are found scattered across the area. <br />-5- <br />