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1999 Soil Sampling: Seneca Mine, Hayden Colorado <br />75mm and 75mm to 250mm) of sedimentary origin, primarily sandstone with <br />some fragments of shale, siltstone, and coal. <br />Structure- Structure of the subsoil is weak very coarse subangular blocky to <br />massive structure. Weak structure is developing as the result of drying and <br />wetting of the subsoil horizon throughout the year and to occasional freeze <br />thaw cycles within the soil profile. Such structure is typical of mechanically <br />redistributed subsoil. <br />Consistence- Dry consistence in the subsoil layer averages very hard with a <br />range of hard to extremely hard. Dry consistence indicates moderate <br />compaction through the use of mechanical equipment for subsoil <br />redistribution. Moist consistence averages firm and ranges firm to very firm. <br />Lab Data- Lab data is located in Appendix II. The subsoil pH ranges 7.9 to <br />8.0 and averages 7.9 which is moderately alkaline. Organic matter averages <br />5.2 percent and ranges 2.5 to 5.7. These results and all other lab data <br />indicates subsoil in all sample pits as suitable (Appendix III, Table-2). <br />Vegetation- <br />Above Ground- At all sample pit locations, above ground foliar development <br />is good to excellent except for 2W-1-99 which is fair. Plant form is typical for <br />respective species. Plant color is good and there are no color indications of <br />mineral deficiencies or toxicity. Soil lab data indicates that minerals are in <br />sufficient quantity to foster normal growth pattern. Plant vigor is good to <br />excellent except for 2W-1-99 where vigor lags behind other sample sites. 2W- <br />1-99 occurs on a gentle slope and has greater compaction than the other <br />sites. This is likely due to reconstruction traffic maneuvering on the gentler <br />slope. This sample pit location represents less than 5 percent of the overall <br />sample area. Without further disturbance, it is likely that this area can recover <br />fully. Ground cover is good and a litter layer is starting to develop. Small rills <br />and gullies, probably the result of the runoff after initial seeding have stopped <br />and are filling with litter. Additionally, new seedling establishment, either <br />through rhizomes or seed, is occurring outside initial seed rows. This is <br />increasing foliar canopy cover and filling bare ground voids. <br />Below Ground- Root penetration into the upper topsoil is good to excellent. <br />Typically, roots range common to many very fine, fine and medium roots <br />typical of grasses and forbs. The lower topsoil has good root penetration with <br />common fine, common to many very fine and few medium roots. Root <br />penetration should continue and even ameliorate soil structure further. Root <br />penetration into the upper part of the subsoil is only now beginning. Few fine <br />and very fine roots are penetrating the horizon. Roots are not matting along <br />the topsoil/subsoil boundary indicating that root penetration will continue over <br />time. <br />Page 10 of 11 <br />02/09/00 <br />