Minerals Resource Assessment – Cumbria

Summary

Omnia were commissioned to undertake a detailed Mineral Resource Assessment at a site in Cumbria, as it was considered given the large size of the development area (10ha) and the locality within a Mineral Safeguarding Area of Sand and Gravel, that the area may be deemed economically viable for extractions.

Scope of Works

• Works to produce the detailed MRA included:
• Review of online BGS Mapping to assess the geological setting of the site, including review of historical boreholes in the area;
• Consideration of the requirements of the Minerals and Waste Safeguarding Guidance and Policy of County Council Local Plan;
• Review of third party Phase II intrusive ground investigation logs to further substantiate the underlying geological setting of the site;
• Assess volume of extractible mineral present beneath the site;
• Due consideration given to the neighbouring extraction constraints associated with wider dockland sensitive infrastructure; and,
• Consideration of historical usage of the subject site and how remedial target requirements would affect the volume of extractable material.

The standalone Minerals Resource Assessment was reported and included:

• Assessment of mineral resource present beneath the site;
• Assessment of workable area taking into account required standoffs from wider dockland infrastructure and commercial/ economical sensitive receptors;
• Assessment of the volume of workable mineral resource present beneath the site;
• Assessment of workable volume with consideration of underground voids, water table constraints and cut and fill models for the proposed development; and,
• An assessment of potentially viable options for mineral extraction on site prior to construction and during the construction of the development.

Outcome

Once complete, Omnia were able to conclude that one area of the site (totalling an area of approximately 5.8ha, rather than the whole 10ha) was considered potentially viable for extraction. Although the proposed development was the decommissioning of the former site and subsequent earthworks to produce a development platform, which did not permanently sterilise any underlying mineral resource, it was considered that proposed works could change the nature of the underlying mineral and its economic value as a commodity.

It was considered that the hiatus of any permanent construction work present an opportunity for underlying mineral reserve to be extracted but needed to take into consideration that a full decommissioning of the site was required. It was therefore considered that enabling works would allow for limited mineral extraction during the decommissioning and earthworks.