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2001 Soil Sampling: Seneca Mine, Hayden Colorado <br />• Rock Fragments- Rock fragments average 25 percent and range 5 to 45 <br />percent. Rock Fragments are predominantly gravel and cobble size (2mm to <br />250mm) of sedimentary origin, primarily sandstone. <br />Structure- Structure of the subsoil is strong very coarse subangular blocky. <br />Such structure is typical of mechanically redistributed subsoil. <br />Consistence- Dry consistence in the subsoil layer is very to extremely hard. <br />Dry consistence indicates moderate compaction through the use of <br />mechanical equipment for subsoil redistribution. Moist consistence is firm. <br />Lab Data- Lab data is located in Appendix II. The subsoil pH ranges 6.3 to <br />7.6 and averages 7.0 which is neutral. Organic matter averages 4.5 percent <br />and ranges 1.1 to 5.8. These results and all other lab. data indicate subsoil in <br />all sample pits as suitable (Appendix III, Table-2j. , <br />Vegetation- <br />Above Ground- Plant form was typical for respective species forall sample <br />sites. Plant color is good and there is no color indications of mineral <br />deficiencies or toxicity. Soil lab data indicates that minerals are in sufficient <br />• quantity to foster normal growfh pattern. S2-01-2, S2-01-4 and S2-02-6 have <br />poor to fair vigor. However, they exhibit good quality. These sites should be <br />monitored for vitality over the next 2 years. Chiseling or ripping may be <br />required if vegetatior, fails to improve in vigor. <br />Below Ground- Root penetration into the upper topsoil is fair. Typically, roots <br />range common very fine, few fine and few medium roots typical of shrubs, <br />grasses and forbs in the initial stages of development. The lower topsoil has <br />roots starting to penetrate through the horizon with few very fine, fine and <br />medium roots. Root penetration should continue and even ameliorate soil <br />structure further. Roots are not matting along the upper topsoiVlower <br />topsoiVsubsoil boundary indicating that root penetration will continue over <br />time. Root penetration into the upper part of the subsoil has not yet occurred. <br />Conclusions <br />Overall, topsoil and subsoil are suitable and are supporting a fair dryland pasture of <br />emergent grasses and forbs. Further fertilizer application for the sampled areas is <br />not indicated especially since there is already high organic matter levels. Future <br />seeding should be proceeded by ripping on 2 to 4 foot centers to a depth of 18 <br />inches. In addition the disking tool should be weighted to increase the penetration <br />depth of the disks to 6 to 8 inches. Both processes will reduce soil compaction <br />• increase water irifiltration and soil moisture holding capacity which in turn will <br />increase live perennial vegetative cover. <br />Page 7 of 10 <br />11/09/01 <br />