2005-11-15_REPORT - C1982057 (5)

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• on January 14, 2005 and includes the 16 regraded spoils sampled in December 2004 from 2W. Set 4 was reported on February 25, 2005 and includes the 4 regraded spoils sampled in December 2004 on the Yoast Mine. Overburden Soil Results All regraded spoil samples collected in 2004 (including the 25 spoil samples collected at 2W in June, the 12 spoil samples collected at 2W North Block in December, the 4 spoil samples collected at 2W South Block in December, and the 4 spoil samples collected at Yoast in December) have suitable quality with no unsuitable parameters. Spoil reaction (pH) primarily ranges from pH 7.1 (neutral) to pH 8.1 (moderately alkaline). One spoil sample has pH 5.8 (moderately acid). The average spoil pH is 7.5 (slightly alkaline). Electrical conductivity (EC) ranges from 0.6 to 4.7 (nonsaline to moderately saline), with an average EC of 2.2 (slightly saline). Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) values range from 0.3 to 1.8 (nonsodic). Spoil textures are primarily clay loam but also include loam, sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, silty clay, and clay. Saturation percents are all good and range from 34.6 to 68.6 percent. Spoil boron values range from 0.1 to 3.8 (ppm) and average 1.6 (ppm). All boron values are less than 5.0 (ppm), the suitability threshold. Acid -Base Potential (A:B Potential) values are all positive (greater than, "more positive ", than the threshold suitability value • of -5 Tons of CaCO3 per 1000 tons of material). Some of the samples required the second analytical step of pyritic sulfur determination and recalculation of A:B Potential. Values range from 0.7 to 104.8 and average 43.7. Calcium carbonate content (CaCO3 percent) ranges from 0.08 to 11.1 percent and averages 5.4 percent. Soil Results All reapplied topsoil samples collected in 2004 (including the 25 Yoast samples, the 25 2W samples, and the 8 samples collected from 3 backhoe pits) have good suitability and favorable soil fertility. Soil reaction (pH) ranges from pH 6.2 (slightly acid) to pH 7.7 (slightly alkaline), and averages pH 6.9 (neutral). Electrical conductivity (EC) is low with all values less than 1.9 ( nonsaline). Soil texture is primarily clay loam but also includes loam. Soil nutrient and micronutrient levels are good. Organic matter content is very good with values ranging from 1.1 to 8 percent, and averaging 4.9 percent. Lime content is low. Three backhoe pits were dug on reclaimed lands — two on Yoast Mine reclaimed land (YTS -04-P1 and YTS- 04 -P2) and one on 2W Mine reclaimed land (2WTS- 04 -P1). The pits were dug down through the reapplied topsoil and into the underlying overburden spoil. The backhoe pits were dug to about six feet in depth, and care was taken to provide a straight, clean sidewall and endwall for observation and description purposes. A complete soil profile description was completed in the field and samples were taken by • horizons (layers) or depth interval, whichever was most appropriate. Soil profile and