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3.1.1 The use of sand and gravel is much dependent on the physical characteristics of the material. However the principal end uses for sand and gravel include concrete and concrete products, mortars, building sand, capping layers, sub bases and coated macadams.
3.1.2 The demand for sand and gravel on the Island over the period 2000 to 2006 has been on average 281,000 tonnes per annum.
By far the largest supply of sand and gravel on the Island originates from the Point of Ayre quarry approximately 3 kilometres north of the village of Bride and just to the south west of Point of Ayre Lighthouse. The operation is run by CEMEX. The quarry is exploiting the sand and gravel deposits of the Point of Ayre Formation of Quaternary age. Under the terms of a Mining Lease, CEMEX is permitted to extract 250,000 tonnes of sand and gravel. Between 2000 and 2006, average annual output has been c.220,000 tonnes. CEMEX estimates the reserves of sand and gravel to be c.3.75 million tonnes. Based on the permitted extraction limit, this equates to a reserve life of 15 years, or 17 years if the average annual rate of 220,000 tonnes is applied.
Cronk y Scotty quarry, operated by F N & M E Black, is situated on the north west coast approximately 7.5kms north of Ballaugh. Access is via the A10. The quarry is extracting the sandy beach deposits of the Point of Ayre formation. Average output between 2000 and 2006 is c. 3,200 tonnes. The operator has not disclosed the estimated reserves remaining. However, this has been estimated by our mineral consultants to be c. 5,500 tonnes. The permitted extraction limit at Cronk y Scotty is 4,000 tonnes per annum. Based on the average production over past seven years, the life of the permitted reserves is approximately 2 years.
The sandpit at Ballaharra, operated by Corlett Building Materials Ltd., is situated mid-way between Peel and St. John's on the northern side of the A1. The operation is extracting sand from the fluvial deposits of the Sulby Glen Formation which yield a variety of sands which are used to produce roofing tiles, calcium silicate bricks, facing bricks, blocks and paving, as well as sand for other building purposes. Recycling of waste construction and demolition material is also carried out to produce graded 'sand' which is blended with the raw sands which helps preserve the natural sand reserves. Average output between 2000 and 2006 is c.17,500 tonnes. The use of recycled sand has increased output from
Ballaharra in recent years. Although not accurately quantified, the operator estimates that there are in excess of 20 years' reserves remaining.
Lhergydhoo Sand Pit exploited the sand and gravel deposits of the Orrisdale Formation of Quaternary age and was operated by J.C.K. Limited. Sand reserves at Lhergydhoo are exhausted and the operator has submitted a planning application for the excavation of 4 hectares of an adjoining field which will involve construction of a duct beneath Ballagyr Lane from the existing Lhergydhoo sand pit site. Determination of the application is awaited. The estimated reserve is 400,000 tonnes with an anticipated annual output of 20 years based on an extraction rate of 20,000 tonnes per annum. Determination of the application is critical as the existing sandpit is quickly being infilled. Based on current levels of recycling, work on the extension needs to begin within approximately 12 – 18 months otherwise there is unlikely to be room to construct the proposed underpass beneath the road to provide access to the reserves in the extension area.
The quarry is situated in the south west of the Island, approximately 1km to the west of Ballasalla and 2km north of Castletown. Access is via the A3. Operated by Billown Lime Quarries Ltd., the quarry is exploiting the carboniferous limestone of the Knockrushen Formation. These are overlain by thick deposits of Quaternary glacial till of the Shellag Formation. Mining Lease permits the extraction of 150,000 tonnes of limestone per annum. The quarry produces a range of sized aggregate, Type 1, ballast and dust. The majority of the limestone is used in the production of Type 1 material which is approximately 30 – 35% of the total output of the quarry. The quarry has its own coating plant which produces c.30,000 tonnes of coated macadams per annum using sized limestone chippings, imported chippings from Poortown Quarry, and granite chippings imported from the UK. The operator has indicated that the permitted reserves remaining are c.635,000 tonnes.
Future demand forecasts projected by the operator envisage an average output of c.105,000 tonnes per annum and the reserve is expected to become exhausted in 2012.
Pooil Vaaish Quarry is located close to sea level on the eastern shores of Bay ny Carrickey opposite Port St. Mary. Access is via a single track metalled road off the A5. Operated by Pooil Vaaish Ltd., the carboniferous limestone extracted at the quarry is black in colour, a decorative stone, and known locally as ‘Pooil Vaaish marble’. Output from the quarry is limited, averaging c.650 tonnes per annum.
Igneous rocks on the Isle of Man have traditionally been used as a source of building stone, road setts, pavements and monumental stone. However, exploitation is now devoted overwhelmingly to the production of aggregate used for example for roadstone, concrete aggregate and railway ballast.
Aggregate from igneous sources is supplied from two quarries, Poortown and Stoney Mountain, both of which are operated by the Department of Transport (DoT). The peak in demand for igneous stone arose in 2002 when almost 200,000 tonnes were used. The production of igneous stone between 2000 and 2006 is illustrated in Appendix 4.
Of the total igneous output between 2000 and 2006, Stoney Mountain has provided on average 57% of the tonnage, with Poortown 43%. The percentage proportions of these two quarries in the supply of igneous stone during this period are illustrated in Appendix 5.
Poortown Quarry is situated in the west of the Island, approximately 2km east inland from the outskirts of Peel. Access to the quarry is via the A20 (Poortown Road). The quarry is extracting dolerite which was intruded into the Creggan Moar Formation of the Manx Group. The rock has a high polished stone value, which makes it suitable for use in the manufacture of coated macadam’s, and the reserves are deemed to be national importance. The Mining Lease permits the extraction of 100,000 tonnes of igneous rock per annum. Analysis has been made of outputs over the past two years which are illustrated in Appendix 6. The products and their average percentage of total tonnage over these two years are as follows:
Coated Macadams 52%
Sized Aggregate 18%
Chippings to Billown Quarry 12%
Inferior Rubble 6%
Type 1 6%
Scalps 5%
Ballast 2%
The national importance of Poortown stone is reflected in the above percentages which clearly indicate that the stone is being used in the manufacture of high value products, i.e. coated macadams and sized aggregate (including chippings to Billown Quarry).
The permitted reserves at the quarry are c.1.45 million tonnes. Average output over the past three years has been c.33,000 tonnes and so the estimated life of the reserve, based on this average output is approximately 43 years.
Stoney Mountain Quarry is located approximately 1.5 kilometres to the south east of Foxdale within the Stoney Mountain Forest Plantation in the Parish of Malew. Access to the site is via a minor road which adjoins the B36. The quarry is extracting granite within the Foxdale Granite outcrop. The granite has been intruded into the Maughold Formation of the Manx Group and forms a low, rounded hill termed ‘Granite Mountain’. The Mining Lease permits the extraction of 120,000 tonnes of igneous rock per annum. The quarry produces crushed ballast, Type 1 material, sized chippings, dust and blockstone armouring.
The granite is of variable quality as a result of weathering and is considered to be not as good as the Poortown Quarry stone. Stoney Mountain has in the past been used as a source of armour stone for coastal protection. More recently, the harder granite has been quarried for use as sub-base for road construction whilst the poorer quality material has been used as a general fill.
Analysis has been made of outputs over the past two years and these are illustrated in Appendix 7. The products and their percentage of total tonnage are as follows:
The current planning consent expires in May 2009. Planned reserves are estimated at between 80-100,000 tonnes and are considered to be adequate to maintain supplies up to the end of the planning consent based on the current level of sales of c.40,000 tonnes per annum. However, a significant upturn in demand to a level close to the
permitted extraction rate of 120,000 tonnes per annum would see the reserve exhausted in a little under 12 months.
Therefore, if unbroken production at the quarry is to continue at current extraction rates beyond 2009 then a planning application needs to be submitted as a matter of some urgency. This is recognised by the DoT who have already undertaken a detailed geological survey through exploratory drilling and geophysical surveys of an area to the west of the existing quarry that could potentially be the subject of a planning application for a lateral extension to the existing quarry. As the results of the survey are currently being assessed, the timing of a planning submission has not yet been established.
Whilst Manx Group Stone since 2000 has on average provided only a tenth of the Island's mineral needs, it is, nevertheless, an important commodity in the supply of aggregates for the construction industry. There have been seven (7) operations extracting Manx Group Stone for most of the period 2000-2006. Mineral extraction has recently ceased at Dreemskerry following the exhaustion of the reserve.
One of the principal uses of Manx Group stone is the manufacture of Type 1 material used as a general fill. Of the seven 2000-2006 Manx Group operations, Starch Mill, Earystane and South Barrule can be discounted as alternative future sources of supply of Manx Group Type 1 material stone based on the type of products these quarries produce (a reflection of the nature of the stone being quarried) and/or their respective low outputs.
Therefore, the current suppliers of Type 1 Manx Group material operating latterly are Dreemskerry, Cringle, Laurel Bank and Ballaneven Farm. A summary of the combined outputs from these latter operations is shown in Appendix 8.
The quarry site is located approximately 250m south east of Dreemskerry, 3kms east of Ramsey and 1.5km west of the Island's east coast. Access to the site is via the B19. The stone at Dreemskerry is the Creg Agneash Formation which comprises pale quartz arenite, thin to thick bedded, with interbedded laminated mudstone and siltstone. Dreemskerry stone is considered by some to be better suited to dimension stone use than that from other quarries, though there is a continuing demand for building stone from Earystane Quarry and, to a lesser extent, Cringle and Starch Mill.
The quarry has latterly been operated by Done (IOM) Limited who acquired the quarry from the former owner in the late 1990's. Under the terms of a Mining Lease granted by the DTI, the quarry has been permitted to extract a total of 40,000 tonnes annually.
The range of stone products sold included building stone (including patio stone, rock armour, rockery stone and crazy paving); MOT Type 1; 5-inch products and 3-inch products.
From 2000 to 2006, the main supplier of Manx Group stone was consistently Dreemskerry, as highlighted by Appendix 8.
The quarry is situated in an upland area located adjacent to the Cringle plantation and to the east of the mountain, South Barrule. Access is via the A27. The strata quarried belong to the Maughold Formation and are mostly comprised of mudstone with siltstone laminae with thin beds of quartz arenite. Operated by A V Craine and Sons, under the terms of a Mining Lease granted by the DTI, the quarry is permitted to extract a total of 40,000 tonnes annually and produces primarily a Type 1 product along with some building stone product. For much of the period since 2000, Cringle quarry has been the second largest supplier of Manx Group stone on the Island.
Located in the north of the island, approximately 2km east of Ballaugh Village, Starch Mill Quarry is situated within a valley on Mount Karrin and is accessed via a small road off the A14. Operated by Messrs. F N & M E Black, the quarry is extracting stone within the Barrule Formation, which is made up of dark grey to black mudstone, structureless or rarely faintly laminated. Starch Mill quarry produces both drystone aggregate (hardcore) and building stone but output from this quarry is low. Between 2000 and 2006, only a total of 1,400 tonnes was sold from the quarry. The Mining Lease permits the extraction of 2,000 tonnes per annum. The DTI considers it unlikely that that the quarry operator would be willing to increase output at the quarry to satisfy demand in the event that planning consent for Cringle is refused.
Earystane Quarry is located to the south of Earystane plantation. Access is via an unmetalled track from the A27. Operated by Earystone Ltd., a family-run business, the quarry is located within a sandstone dominant member of the Maughold Formation. Generally, the Maughold Formation consists of dark grey mudstone with siltstone laminae and quartz arenite as thin to medium beds or locally dominant in packets up to a few tens of metres. Earystane produces walling stone but is a low output quarry where the permitted extraction rate including crushed waste rock, allowed by the Mining Lease, is 3,000 tonnes per annum.
3.4.8 South Barrule (NGR E 226950 N 476900)
Located to the east of the South Barrule plantation on the north east flank of the South Barrule mountain, access is via a small road off the A36. South Barrule is operated, albeit on an infrequent basis, by the DoT. The quarry provides walling stone for DoT contracts. The DTI has met with the quarry manager to establish the DoT's future plans for the quarry and were reliably informed that for the foreseeable future, the DoT have no intention of increasing output at South Barrule and will continue for the present time with the walling stone operation. However, in order to assist with a fuller picture of suitable material Island-wide, the DTI has commissioned testing of the strata at the quarry to establish whether the inherent physical properties of the rock would be suitable to allow crushing and screening to be carried out on a commercial basis.
3.4.9 Laurel Bank (NGR 228150E 483600N)
The landowner is in the process of constructing terraces on the hillside adjacent to this property. Extraction of stone is ancillary to the landscaping process. The stone extracted forms part of the Creggan Mooar Formation which the British Geological Survey Map 2000 describes as comprising mudstone, siltstone and sandstone, laminated to thinly bedded, with manganiferous ironstone laminae. The primary seller is a Type 1 product used for general fill. Since the closure of Dreemskerry Quarry, Laurel Bank supplied a significant proportion of Type 1 material during 2006. This increase is illustrated in Appendix 8. The DTI is aware that Done (IOM) Ltd has supplemented its need for Type 1 from Laurel Bank which would otherwise had been sourced from Dreemskerry had extraction operations not ceased.
3.4.10 Ballaneven Farm (NGR 228250E 482700N)
The site is being used as a composting facility. Stone is being extracted on site as part of the construction of a concrete pad structure on which organic wastes are converted to compost. Again, stone extraction is ancillary to the main development. The stone extracted is part of the Glen Rushen Formation, described by the British Geological Survey Map 2000 as comprising dark grey to black mudstone with siltstone laminae. This operation has supplied a Type 1 product.
4.1 Estimates of the remaining planned reserves at Dreemskerry, Cringle, Laurel Bank and Ballaneven Farm have been undertaken by the DTI’s minerals consultants, Wardell Armstrong.
Quarrying operations at Dreemskerry ceased in July/August 2006 upon exhaustion of the mineral reserve. Sales of processed stone have continued up to the present, albeit at an ever decreasing rate as stocks are depleted.
The extant planning consent is time limited to expire around October 2009. The operator had indicated that in 2005, the planned reserves were estimated at approximately 150,000 – 160,000 tonnes. However, the assessment over estimated the reserve as no allowance had been made for the retention of safety benches. Using the most recent survey of the quarry, undertaken in June 2007, the revised reserve estimate, allowing for safety benches, is now approximately 62,000 tonnes.
Since 2003 sales from Cringle have, on average, been around 15,500 tonnes per annum. If future demand were maintained at a level of 15,500 tonnes, then the life of the remaining estimated reserve would be approximately 4 years.
The Mining Lease permits the annual extraction of 40,000 tonnes. Since 2003, with an average sales quantity of c.15,500 tonnes, the quarry has been operating 61% below capacity at a level of just 39%. Therefore, there is scope for production to be increased. The operator has recently indicated to the DTI his willingness to increase production if the situation demanded it.
Under the terms of a former Mining Licence, granted for a period covering 1st September 2005 – 31st December 2005, the operator extracted and sold a total of c.18,500 tonnes of stone.
When the latter Mining Licence was issued in April 2006, the total reserve was estimated at 75,000 tonnes. However, it must be emphasised that the reserve had not been determined by actual site investigation but based on a comparison of a topographical survey and the concept terrace design. During the period between 1st April 2006 and 12th May 2007 (i.e. from the commencement date of the recently expired Mining Licence to the end of the previous royalty period) the operator sold approximately 28,900 tonnes. It has been mooted that any application for a further Licence may only be to permit the removal of a further 20,000 tonnes
On average, monthly output from Laurel Bank has been c.2,500 tonnes per month. It is highly unlikely that the period of any further Licence would extend beyond 12 months from the beginning of 2008.
The operator has recently indicated that there is approximately 13,000 tonnes of stone remaining on site to be extracted, processed and sold.
Average monthly sales total 375 tonnes. Therefore, on the proviso that the DTI were to renew the Mining Licence for a term necessary to allow the potential reserve to be sold then, based on the estimated monthly average, the remaining life of the reserve is c. 3 years. Given the fact that it is ancillary to the development of the composting facility on the site, however, continued aggregate extraction for any significant period is not considered desirable.
5.1 During the period between 2000 and 2006, mineral output from the Manx Group operations of Dreemskerry, Cringle and – more recently – Laurel Bank and Ballaneven Farm totalled 386,000 tonnes. Therefore, the average output over this seven year period was c.55,000 tonnes per annum.
5.2 Based on the above estimates, there is a 95,000 tonne land bank of permitted reserves available.
5.3 With an average annual output of c.55,000 tonnes from the Manx Group operations, if planning consent for the extension to Dreemskerry Quarry is refused then, provided demand remains fairly constant (subject to a variance of +/- 10%), it is estimated that there is only a land bank of just under 2 years remaining.
5.4 Hence, unless alternative sources of stone could be found to meet the demand for stone currently met by the Manx Group operations, potentially this land bank could be exhausted by early to mid 2009. Appendix 9 illustrates the estimated exhaustion date of Manx Group stone.
5.5 Planning consent for the extension to:
5.5.1 Cringle Quarry alone would, if approved, increase the land bank of Manx Group stone to c. 1.26 million tonnes, effectively providing a land bank for almost 23 years based on existing output levels.
5.5.2 Dreemskerry Quarry alone would, if approved, increase the land bank of Manx Group stone to c. 1.76 million tonnes, effectively providing a land bank for 32 years based on existing output levels.
5.5.3 Both Cringle and Dreemskerry Quarries would, if approved, significantly increase the land bank of Manx Group stone to c. 2.93 million tonnes, effectively providing a land bank for 53 years based on existing output levels.
5.6 It is important to understand that if planning consent were granted at either of the above quarries in isolation (as per 5.5.1 or 5.5.2 above), this would only help to preserve the current levels of Manx Group stone in meeting the Island’s need for aggregate. However, if a proportion of the stone were used to supplement an identified gravel shortage at the Point of Ayre, this would, by definition, reduce the tonnage of stone that would have been provided to the market and hence, will need to be sourced from alternative sources.
5.7 The granite resource at Stoney Mountain could be further accessed by way of a new planning permission to assist satisfying the current and future mineral demands.
6.1 In considering the future supply of stone the DTI has concluded that with the closure of Dreemskerry, there is a requirement for up to 80,000 tonnes p.a. of this material if development on the Island continues at the same rate. This mineral will have to be sourced somewhere and the options are thought to be as follows:
a) From the re-opening and extension of Dreemskerry Quarry b) From the possible extension and increase in output of Cringle Quarry as per the application c) From increased operation at South Barrule d) From offshore sources e) From off-Island sources.
6.2 Regarding the possible re-opening and extension of Dreemskerry Quarry, a planning application was submitted last year and refused. An appeal against refusal failed earlier this year on a technicality concerning the appellant's submission of paperwork and a new application has been submitted. The DTI has no reliable information as to how long this process might take until Dreemskerry's future is finally determined.
6.3 Having held discussions with the DoT, it is clear that there is unlikely to be an increase in operations in the short term at South Barrule as there are uncertainties over the suitability of the stone there. The DTI has commissioned laboratory testing of the stone, as well as exploratory crushing and screening to assess whether a suitable aggregate could be produced on a commercially viable basis. A report is expected by the end of 2007.
6.4 As outlined in paragraph 3.3.5 above, Stoney Mountain has provided up to 32% (c.12,800 tonnes) of Type 1 material. An extension to the quarry will help secure the continued market share of this material.
6.5 The potential for stone to be supplied from offshore sources is some way off (if, indeed, it is practicable at all). The DTI has recently granted two exploration licences to permit prospecting off the north east and north west coasts of the Island. Prospecting works under these licences are currently ongoing, but initial indications are that sand/gravel would be the predominant material.
6.6 Sourcing minerals from off-Island sources has not been explored by the DTI. Importation of stone is currently taking place; for example the granite chippings used at Billown to provide an additional source of aggregate for the coating plant, originate from mainland Britain and from Northern Ireland. The operator at Billown has confirmed that this is a costly exercise. Therefore, the additional costs of importing a significant quantity of stone would directly impact on the economic development of the Island.
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