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of the overburden and interburden is predominantly very suitable (sandy <br /> clay loam) with little variability across the mine site (Tables 6-6 and <br /> 6-7; Figures 6-3 and 6-5) . Excessive clay levels were identified with <br /> the same thin shale increment mentioned previously in the saturation <br /> percentage section. <br /> No texture analysis was warranted for the Phase II samples collected <br /> from Mine Areas 2 and 3. Textural properties can be inferred from the <br /> lithologic descriptions and saturation percentage values . <br /> EC. Soluble salts influence the quantity of water available to plants <br /> and total dissolved solids concentration in ground water. Salinity <br /> levels are most critical during germination and most detrimental in hot <br /> dry climates and on south facing slopes than in other landscape <br /> positions . Salinity values for Phase I samples ranged from 0.5 to 8.7 <br /> mmhos/cm (Tables 6-6 and 6-7) . Similar mean salinity values of 2.6 and <br /> 3.4 mmhos/cm exist for the interburden and overburden, respectively. <br /> Individual salinity values approached excessive levels in a few <br /> instances (Figure 6-3 and 6-6) and therefore EC analyses were determined <br /> on all samples collected from the scraper pits at Nucla Mine. <br /> Total Combustible Solids. The significance of determining the total <br /> combustible solids content of overburden and interburden to assess <br /> revegetation potential or to evaluate potential impacts to water quality <br /> could not be gleaned from recent literature. The total combustible <br /> solids analysis is not justifiable for Nucla Mine. <br /> Molybdenum. Mean plant available molybdenum levels for overburden and <br /> interburden material collected during Phase I sampling are less than 1.2 <br /> ppm (Tables 6-6 and 6-7; Figures 6-3 and 6-6) . Molybdenum levels in <br /> interburden were always less than 2.0 ppm while overburden <br /> concentrations range from less than 1.0 to 3.6 ppm. Twinned sample <br /> results (from recored offset holes) for sites 695E and 697E presented in <br /> Appendix 6-4 showed that the initial samples were contaminated. Four <br /> overburden samples , one from site 3C and three from site 775E, exceeded <br /> the 2 ppm molybdenum suitability level . Both of these sites are located <br /> outside of the projected mine disturbance limit. Barth et al . (1981) <br /> recommends further testing when values greater than 2.0 ppm are <br /> encountered. <br /> 6-30 Revised 3/6/87 <br />