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Prince Albert Mine 110(d) Permit Application Exhibit U - EPP <br />U (7) Ground Water <br />The Club Mesa and regional geology and hydrogeologic systems were examined in depth in the <br />Revised Environmental Report, Uravan Project, Radioactive Materials License No. 660 -02S, <br />UMETCO Minerals Corporation submitted to the Colorado Department of Public Health and <br />Environment on November 14, 1997. The sections of this report relevant to the Prince Albert Mine <br />are summarized in Section U (7.a) followed by a discussion of site - specific groundwater quality and <br />management practices. <br />U (7.a) Ground Water Information <br />This section summarizes the general geology, stratigraphy, and hydrogeology as they relate to the ground <br />water regime for the local Club Mesa area. <br />U (7.a.1) Geologic Setting and Stratigraphic Column <br />Club Mesa is located in the Canyon Lands region of southwest Colorado, directly bounded to the <br />southwest by the Dolores River canyon and to the northeast by the San Miguel River canyon. The mesa is <br />typical of the region, consisting of well - defined and fairly uniform layers of Mesozoic age continental <br />sandstone, shale and mudstone that are exposed by the deep incision of the river canyons. The formations <br />dip at a shallow 1 to 3 degrees towards the axis of the Nucla Syncline to the northeast, which lies between <br />the Salt Anticline region of the Paradox Valley to the west and the Uncompahgre Uplift to the east. <br />Exposed formations of the Mesozoic age (from the bottom up) include Triassic Period — the Chinle <br />Formation ( -400 ft. thick) and the Glen Canyon Group Wingate Sandstone ( -250 ft. thick) and Kayenta <br />Formation ( -180 ft. thick); Jurassic Period — the San Rafael Group Entrada Sandstone ( -160 ft. thick) and <br />Wanakah Formation ( -90 ft. thick) and the Morrison Formation Salt Wash Member ( -360 ft. thick) and <br />Brushy Basin Member ( -430 ft. thick); and Cretaceous Period — the Burro Canyon Formation ( -70 ft. <br />thick) and the Dakota Sandstone ( -150 ft. thick). A stratigraphic section, which includes a general <br />geologic description of each formation, is included as Figure U.7.1 "Generalized Stratigraphic Column - <br />Club Mesa." <br />The Prince Albert Mine site is in a geologically stable area, with the nearest fault zone of significance <br />lying over one mile to the west along the southwest edge of Saucer Basin and the headwaters area of <br />Hieroglyphic Canyon. The Saucer Basin fault zone is part of a series of northwest trending fault zones off <br />of the Salt Anticline in the Paradox Valley (see Figure U.7.2 "Suspected Regional Active Faults "). The <br />conclusion that the mine site is in a geologically stable area is supported by the regularity of the <br />northeasterly dendritic drainage at the headwaters of Hieroglyphic Canyon, the regularity of the drainage <br />on Club Mesa, and the long -term stability of the San Miguel River channel. <br />Rimrock Exploration & Development Page 25 of 39 <br />