Laserfiche WebLink
• direct vicinity of WFC's New Horizon 2 Mine. As seen in the geology discussion (Section 2.04.6) of <br />the permit application, the geology of this region is complex. Consequently, the groundwater system <br />is difficult to interpret. To understand the extent the New Horizon 2 Mine may affect the local and <br />regional ground water supply, one must delineate the regional and local ground water systems. <br />Tooooraohv. Topography is the principal element governing shallow aquifers (100 feet) in the <br />Canyon Land Section of the Colorado Plateau Physiographic Province. Topographic highs act as <br />recharge areas, and lows along streams serve as discharge areas during periods of high water table. <br />In alluvial and other unconsolidated material, ground water moves for the most part from high <br />topography to low. This also appears to be the case for the unconfined portions of the Dakota <br />sandstone and Burro Canyon formations. <br />Litholoav. Lithology governs the water yielding ability, the aquifer characteristics and the chemical <br />quality of the ground water. As seen in Section 2.04.6, the lithology of the New Horizon Mine area <br />is extremely variable. Shallow aquifers of the area consist of unconsolidated valley deposits of the <br />quaternary system and the stratigraphically variable sandstone, shales and coals of Cretaceous,4ge <br />• (Dakota, and Burro Canyon Formations). Deeper aquifers consist of the varicolored Morrison <br />Formation and the Entrada Formation both of Jurassic Age. The variability of lithology within each <br />of the aquifers creates a complex hydrologic system. <br />Table 2.04.5-1 is a sununary chart adapted from Boettcher (1972) describing the physical and <br />hydrologic character of the water bearing formations mentioned above. Included in Table 2.04.5-1 <br />is water quality which is controlled by the reaction of the ground water and the aquifer and the <br />ground water retention time (Hem, 1970). In addition, ground water yields and uses are given. It <br />must be noted that these are generalizations, and these hydrologic properties can vary greatly v~ithin <br />the formations. <br />Structural Controls. The New Horizon Mine lies in the Colorado Plateau Physiographic Province <br />v~ithin the Canyon Lands Section (Price and Amow, 1974). This section is an upwarped plateau <br />containing several large folds, laccolithic mountains that rise above the plateau surface, deeply <br />incised drainage and an intricate set of deep canyons (Lohman, 1965; lorns et al., 1965). <br /> <br />2.04.5 - 5 <br />