Mining in the Copper Basin in Tennessee began in the mid 1800's with discovery copper ore. Mining continued until the mid 1980's with the exception of suspended operations during the War Between the States. Geology in the Copper Basin is complex. Most is Late Precambrian Copperhill Formation of the Great Smoky Mountain Group. Landscapes in the basin were completely denuded and erosion and air quality was severe. Efforts by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) initiated reclamation plans in the water shed of the Ocoee River due to heavy silt concentration near the power generating turbines. The objective of this study was to examine three profiles representing the aftermath of the severe landscape erosion. Laboratory and field characterization was completed according to procedures outlined by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. Results indicated that stable landforms (2 percent slope) showed soils classified as fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, subactive Ultic Hapludalfs and fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, superactive Typic Hapludults. Steeper slopes (10 percent) revealed a coarse-loamy, mixed, acid, mesic, shallow subactive Typic Udorthents. Soil classification will be useful for future land use planning in the Copper Basin.
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