Toward an inventory of aggregate resources in Newfoundland and Labrador

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 75, No. 844, 1982

D.G. VANDERVEER, Senior Geologist, R. RICKETTS and F. KIRBY, Project Geologists, Environmental Geology Section, Department of Mines and Energy, St. John's, Newfoundland

A program of mapping, sampling and testing to determine the potential of the aggregate resources throughout Newfoundland and Labrador was commenced in 1978. A 6-km-wide corridor parallel to all transportation routes was selected as the study area.The study consisted of a preliminary surficial interpretation followed by field mapping and sampling. Granular resources were sampled at a 500-m interval and non-granular materials were sampled at a 1.5- to 2-km interval. Data were gathered on landforms and stratigraphy as well as afield description of the sample and deposit types. Particle-size and lithologic analyses of the samples were also conducted.The locations of samples and deposits were mapped on 1:50,000 topographic base maps and summarized for publication at a 1:250,000 scale. Surficial geology maps were produced at a 1:50,000 scale. A computer program is being developed for the search and retrieval of field data.The first phase of the Inventory of Aggregate Resources program is Hearing completion and to date has collected information on approximately 9,500 samples throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. This data will be used to provide for the effective management of these vital non-renewable aggregate resources.The mineral aggregate industry in Newfoundland and Labrador is very competitive, but undercapitalized when compared to other provinces. The demand for aggregates is forecasted to increase to in excess of 23 million tons per annum by the year 2002.###In terms of over-all mineral production, the extraction of sand, gravel and stone has a significant impact when compared to other minerals in terms of value and tonnage produced.

Keywords: Aggregates, Newfoundland, Labrador, Surficial geology, Sand, Gravel, Stone, Structural materials, Mapping, Sampling.