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I"he Raton Formation underlies the study area. It consists of arkosic sandstone, <br />siltstone. and shale and contains major coal deposits ofthe Raton Basin. It was formed <br />during the Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene age. Pi I I more ( 1969) measured the formation <br />thickness as 2000 feet, and divided the Raton Formation into three divisions. The lowest <br />division is a basal sandstone conglomerate of quartzite. chcrt and gneiss pebbles and cobbles <br />in a coarse-grained quartzose to arkosi sandstone matrix. The middle division is fine to <br />coarse grained sandstone. with some siltsione, mudstone. and coal. 17he upper division is <br />coal-bearing and contains sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, shale, and mineable coal (ibid). <br />The project area occurs within the Stonewall Valley. on the north talus of the Middle <br />Fork Purgatoire River. The topography include-, foothills. ridge tops. prominences. and <br />steep-walled valleys. Elevation ranges from 7400 to 8000 feet, and exhibits vegetation <br />communities that include pinyon-Juniper forest with open area--, of mountain grassland and <br />areas of mountain shrubs such as currant and mountain mahogany. These communities <br />support a variety of wildlife species that include mule deer. black bear, mountain lion, coyote. <br />badger. cottontail rabbit, and rock squirrel. 'Me Trinchera elk- herd roams the area and is <br />believed to he one of the largest herds of elk in the world (A\elson 2008:344). The area also <br />supports a small number of raptors that include red failed ha-,N k. kestrel. and golden eagle. <br />A range of seasonal temperatures is characteristic of the area. Average temperatures <br />reach lows of 15 degrees Iduring the winter and summer temperatures are as high as 85 <br />degrees 1-; there is a maximum of 132 frost-free days and the annual precipitation is about 36 <br />inches (tier and Kalasz 1999:9). <br />Present day land use within the project boundaries is primarily energy development. <br />Ground visibility ranged from 30-70% due to vegetative cover. <br />Summary of Files Search and Literature Overview <br />A files search for this project was made through the Office of Archaeology and <br />Historic Preservation at the Colorado Historical Society. 'rhe BLM General Land Office <br />records and maps were also reviewed. Two inventory projects haN e occurred within a mile of <br />the study area: I) -Report on Archaeological Investigations in the Vicinities of the Allen and <br />Maxwell Mines. C & I Steel Corporation.- in Las Animas Count\. Colorado by John <br />Campbell with the University of New Mexico on January 1. 1980 (1,A.OSM.R 1) and <br />2) **A Class III Cultural Resources Survey Report for State Highway 12 Road Widening in <br />Las Animas County. Colorado for New Elk Coal Company, IA.C- by Conner and Darnell in <br />May of ?0)1 1. <br />The review of files indicated that no cultural resources were previously recorded <br />within the project area, nor were any historic manifestations (roads, structures, trails,, ditches <br />