Weathered bedrock as a source of sand and gravel aggregate in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia |
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| Authors: | B J Stubbs J V Smith |
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| Institution: | (1) Centre for Coastal Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia, AU |
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| Abstract: | The most commonly recognized sources of sand and gravel aggregate are the deposits of coastal, fluvial and glacial sedimentary
processes. It is not commonly recognized that weathered bedrock is also an important source of sand and gravel aggregate.
In the case of weathered sedimentary bedrock the product may be indistinguishable from modern sedimentary materials and deposits
may be misidentified. Batson's quarry is a major sand and gravel aggregate resource for the rapidly developing region of north-eastern
New South Wales. The deposit has previously been assumed to be a young sedimentary deposit, but detailed field examination
and comparison with surrounding rock types indicates that it has formed from weathered Mesozoic sandstone bedrock. The extraction
of weathered bedrock aggregate deposits has distinctive environmental implications because, unlike sedimentary aggregates,
they are not restricted by the geometry of sedimentary environments and do not necessarily interfere with surface drainage
systems. This study shows that the recognition of the geological origin of a resource is essential in order to determine its
potential geographical extent, and thereby maximize its utilization and minimize land use conflict.
Received: 3 January 1996 / Accepted: 1 November 1996 |
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| Keywords: | Aggregate Sand Gravel |
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