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RED CANYON MINE - 4 - September 3, 1985 Field parameters taken of 'E' Seam water indicate a lower TDS value (SC = 850 to 1,050) than the 'D' Seam. A 1983 full suite analyses of this water shows it also to be sodium-bicarbonate, with little sulfate (6.0 mg/1). This water is also basic, with its pH varying between 8.1 and 8.3. The 'F' Seam, which in turn is sodium-bicarbonate type, (low in sulfate) is low in TDS (SC = 410 to 480). The pH of this water varies between 8.4 and 9.2. In all three coal seams, fluoride and boron are below MLRD irrigation thresholds. The alluvial wells, as expected, fluctuate with the season. Water levels are very high during the late spring and early summer. The alluvial water is usually sodium-bicarbonate type, with low sulfate and TDS values (TDS varying from 300 to 400 mg/1). Magnesium and sodium are slightly elevated, while boron, flouride and most other constituents are fairly subdued. The refuse piezometers, R-1, R-3 and R-6 were sampled for water quality during the year. The water in the refuse pile, essentially an unconfined aquifer, is of very poor quality. Typically, the water is a magnesium-sulfate type with abnormally high TDS values (8,860 mgjl to 14,900 mg/1). Other parameters which exhibit exceptionally high values (compared to baseline data) include chloride, nitrate, potassium, sodium, boron, iron and manganese. The pH of this water varies from 5.3 to 6.7. Water levels fluctuate from hole to hole around the refuse pile. Piezometers R-2 and R-5 are consistently dry. R-1 exhibits seasonal variation. The water in R-3 appears to be rising, while that in R-4 stays fairly constant. Piezometer R-6 recently is staying constant, but has exhibited a slight drop since July of 1984. The sediment pond piezometers exhibit seasonal changes in water levels, with the exception of summer, 1984. In August of 1984, the water levels in piezometers P-l, P-2 and P-3 jumped about one foot. At the end of August, the water levels had again dropped. Piezometer P-4, which is located up-gradient of the pond, did not exhibit this jump. The quality of the water in piezometers P-1, 2 and 3 deteriorates (as judged by specific conductivity) from east (P-3) to west (P-1). The difference in water level is about afoot between P-1 and P-3, which is lowered. No explanation for this difference in quality was off erred. Perhaps a plume of water is infiltrating through the embankment between P-1 and P-2.