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9 I.. <br /> Kicrove etative Stabilization - ,I <br /> Stabilization tests were initiated in which various microscopic plant <br /> f such as algae, lichens, and mosses,osses, rather than the macroscopic forms of <br /> vegetation, were evaluated as soil stabilizers. Lichen and moss crusts were j <br /> d from Can onland National Park, Utah; from greasewood and sand dune <br /> collected t ' <br /> areas near Delta, Utah; and from black sage and shadscale areas near Ely, Nev. <br /> These crusts were used to inoculate saline tailings from the Utah Copper Divi- <br /> Sion of the Kennecott Copper Corp. A comparative control plot of nonsaline <br /> building sand was also inoculated. Preliminary investigations show relatively ! <br /> profuse growth on the control plots and virtually no growth on the Kennecott <br /> tailings. Test plots on uranium, clay, and copper tailings, other than <br /> Kennecott's, produced excellent cryptogamic plant growth, thus demonstrating <br /> that microscopic plant forms are as subject to salinity stress�as are the , <br /> larger varieties of vegetation. <br /> Chemical-Vegetative Procedure <br /> The Bureau-developed chemical-vegetative procedure involves the applica <br /> tioe of a small amount of chemicals to newly planted tailings to achieve sev- <br /> eral worthwhile goals. Sandblasting of plants is minimized. Moisture is <br /> retained in the tailings. Germination is promoted and wilting minimized by <br /> creating a dark heat-absorbing, nonreflecting surface on light-colored tail- <br /> ings. The results sought from a chemical for use in the chemical-vegetative <br /> procedure differ markedly from those desired when achieving stabilization- by <br /> When stabilizing with chemicals only, the crust produced <br /> chemicals alone. Wh g <br /> should be completely resistant to wind erosion, and either should be permeable <br /> i <br /> enough to allow precipitation to be readily absorbed or conversely, be suffi- <br /> ciently resistant to water penetration to prevent erosion. The wind-resistant <br /> -� crust produced by the <br /> chemical for the chemical-vegetative procedure should be i . <br /> (1) only sufficiently porous to permit slow penetration of moisture, which <br /> property also prevents to some extent the evaporation of water from the tail- ; <br /> ings, thus providing better moisture for plant growth; (2) permit air to pene- <br /> trate the tailings to produce proper air, water, and soil-plant relationship; <br /> i and (3) be compatible with plant growth, a factor not required when chemically <br /> stabilizing only. Chemicals for both chemical and chemical-vegetative stabi- <br /> lizations should not degrade to produce water contaminants that may inhibit <br /> , 7 <br /> reuse of the tailing water. i <br /> Several chemicals that were effective in forming wind-resistant crusts <br /> and could meet the projected requirements for- compatibility with vegetative <br /> stabilization were selected for laboratory testing and evaluation. These <br /> included selected organic polymers, bituminous compounds , calcium and ammonium <br /> lignosulfonates, tall oil fractions , wax and resin fractions, and resinous <br /> adhesives. Vegetative growth testing during the winter was accomplished in an <br /> indoor laboratory using Grow-lux lamps augmented with infrared lamps to more <br /> nearly approximate the sun's rays. Summer testing was conducted outdoors <br /> 1nder natural sunlight conditions. The results obtained from indoor testing <br /> btained under outdoor conditions. <br /> appeared to be compatible with those o <br />