2009-03-31_PERMIT FILE - M2009027

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SITE DESCRIPTION EXHIBIT B SOILS INFORMATION The following information was obtained from site observa- tions and the basic soils and vegetation information found thru the USDA's National Soils information page and the Soil Survey of Huerfano County. The following soils information is made part of this application. Soil units are shown on the USDA map, repro- duced on page 5 following this text. The photo map shows the surrounding vegetation features and soil types. This site lies along a east/west trending terrace deposit of gravel south of the Huerfano River. There are 3 soils types found on the mine site, underling the soils is a layer of overburden varying from 4 to 60 inches deep and a layer of gravelly sand that is 12 to 15 feet thick. The 17 - Fort Collins, 1 to 3% slopes soil series covers approxi- mately 7.5 acres or 76% of the mine area. The general soils description indicates that this soil is deep, well drained soil on gently sloping and undulating uplands. The upper most horizon is a 0 to 4 inches deep grayish-brown loam, to dark brown fine grained soil usable as topsoil. Underlaying this top most horizon is an additional 3 to 5 foot layer of overburden material suit- able for use as backfill material or root zone material. Under- lying the topsoil/overburden is a 10 to 15 foot lens of clean gravely sand. Under this level is a dirty clayey gravel sand that is unsuitable for our needs. The top of this layer will become the mine floor. The 63 - Otero fine sandy loam, 1 to 93% slopes soil series covers approximately 0.2 acres or 2.40 of the mine area. The general soils description indicates that this soil is deep, somewhat excessively drained soil on uplands. The upper most horizon is a 0 to 7 inches deep light brownish-grey sandy loam and is a non- sticky, non-plastic and mildly alkali soil usable as topsoil. Underlaying this top most horizon is an additional 3 to 5 foot layer of sandy loam overburden material interbedded with calcare- ous layers. Very little of this soil area exists as it lies within the area previously mined. The 77 - Schamber-Midway complex, 3 to 25% slopes soil series covers approximately 2.1 acres or 21.6% of the mine area. The general soils description indicates that this soil is deep, and excessively drained. The upper most horizon is a 0 to 5 inches deep brown gravelly loamy sand. Underlaying this top most horizon is an additional 2 to 5 foot layer of very gravely sand. We believe this material is the same type that underlies the Fort Collins soils. Most of this soil is within the old mine area. 4