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2.04.7 (1) (a) <br />^.'he coal seams which are being mined contain significant amounts <br />•of groundwaFer. From the analyses in Figures 2.04.6(a)(i)-1, <br />2.04.6(a)(i)-2, 2.09.6(a)(i)-3, 2.04.6(a)(i)-4, and 2.04.6(a)(i)-5, <br />it can be seen that the "E" coal contains between 11 and .15 percent <br />total water. A majority'of this watez is inherent in the.coal and is oontsined in <br />fractures and jointing of a seoondazy nature arri not intergranular porosity. <br />The amount of water which could be produced from any given well <br />penetrating one of these coal seams would be limited by the amount <br />of fracturing encountered in that well. Since this fracturing <br />is partially a function of depth of overburden, the, deeper .the coal <br />seam below the surface the less fracture porosity available to <br />transmit water. As can be seen from the Geologic Structure Alap~ <br />2.04.6-2, these coal seams dip to the north-northeast at three to <br />four degrees. The land surface elevates at approximately the~'same ~ <br />average angle; therefore, these coal seams are buried by a considerable <br />amount of overburden in a relative short distance. On the Geologic <br />Structure Map, 2.04.6-2, it can be seen that the "E" coal seam at <br />the extreme north end of the permit area is at an elevation of ~~ <br />approximately 6100 feet while the ground surface is approximately <br />6800 feet. This means that the "E" coal seam is under 700 feet. of <br />overburden resulting in a compaction of the seam and the fractures <br />within it. The yield available from a well 700 feet deep in this <br />i <br />vicinity would be so low as to make it impractical to develop <br />one of these coal seams for extensive use. <br />Quality of water in the coal seams is illustrated by the analyses <br />contained in Figures 2.04.5-2, 2.04.5-2a, 2.04.5-3, 2.04.5-3a, 2.04.5-4, 2.05-4a, <br />2.04.5-5 and 2.04.5-Sa. As discussed previously, the water quality in the coal seams, <br />unless in the immediate vicinity of high quality surface recharge, <br />is too poor to allow its use directly for potable supply. The total <br />dissolved solids is in excess of 500 parts per million, high sodium <br />content, high sulfate and iron content, and represent health problems <br />to varying degrees if consumed directly. <br />Therefore, water from the coal seams wou13 only be acceptable <br />~or stock, industrial purposes (such as dust control), and limita3 ~~ <br />irrigation. As can be seen on the water analyses contained in <br />57 <br />REVISED May 8, 1981 <br />r,.. <br />