2012-10-01_REVISION - M1977284 (9)

Home Browse Search

Mineral Joe Mine Environmental Protection Plan 44 13. SOILS STOCKPILE AND REVEGETATION Revegetation is part of the mine Reclamation Plan. As such, Rule 6.4.21(17) requires that the Operator provide the following information to assure that acceptable plant growth medium is preserved and to determine what soil amendments may be necessary to promote reclamation: a) A soil survey map of the proposed affected area that delineates soil units, soil texture, estimated cubic yards of soil and subsoils available for reclamation and if saved, where such material will be stockpiled for reclamation; b) Such map shall be based on site - specific soils investigations and shall be on such a scale as to provide a basis for soil management recommendations and be the same scale as the reclamation map; and c) For each soil map unit, provide in tabular form, all data from analyses of representative samples of surface and subsurface soil units as to i. soil pH, texture, electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio and any other parameters that the Operator /Applicant or Office deems necessary for proper soils characterization; ii. indicate on a map, or in the soils narrative, the location of each soil unit on the affected area where the above soil characteristics may be problematic as to suitability for a plant growth medium; and iii. type, form and amounts of any soil amendments that may be necessary or recommended by the local Soil Conservation Service, Soil Conservation District, or other qualified special district, and standard soil laboratory analyses and fertilizer recommendations (if available) for the types of plant species proposed to be established; or iv. provide, as an alternative, a plan of experiments to determine the type, form and amount of any soil amendments that may be necessary to fulfill the requirements of the Reclamation Plan 13.1 Native Soils Soil types within the vicinity of the Mineral Joe Mine project area are shown on Map 4 and the soil properties, including texture, hydrologic group, depth, hydraulic conductivity, pH, salinity and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) are shown in Table 24. The soil information was derived from the Soil SURvey GeOgraphic ( "SSURGO ") data set for C0675: San Miguel Area, Colorado, Parts of Dolores, Montrose, and San Miguel Counties (NRCS, 2012), which was downloaded from the federal Soil Data Mart online database. The SSURGO data set is a digital soil survey and is the most detailed level of soil geographic data developed by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. The dominant soils within the Mineral Joe claim boundaries are the Bodot and Ustic Torriorthents soils, which are shown as Unit 23 on Map 4. These thin soils occur on steeper areas of pinyon juniper woodlands in the vicinity of the Mineral Joe Mine and are classified as fine, montmorillonitic, calcareous, mesic Ustic Torriorthents. Soil pH ranges from 7.9 to 9.0. Soil salinity ranges from 0 to 8.0 mmhos /cm while sodium adsorption ratios ( "SAR ") range from 0 to 10 (Table 24). The site soils are mapped as Hydrologic Soil Group B, C, and D (Table 24). The steeper areas on the escarpment of Monogram Mesa exhibit predominantly Group C characteristics while the lower, flatter areas exhibit predominantly Group B properties. Rocky outcrop areas are mapped as Group D. These soil groups are defined by the NRCS (2012) as: Group B. Soils having a moderate infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consist chiefly of moderately deep to deep, moderately well to well drained soils with moderately fine to moderately coarse textures. These soils have a moderate rate of water transmission. 4148B.120927 Whetstone Associates •