Page 310 - Introduction to Mineral Exploration

12: CLIFFE HILL QUARRY AGGREGATE RESERVES 293

TABLE 12.3 Summary of costs by
phases. Phase Cost in 1987–89
£ values
Phase 1 – Order-of-magnitude study 1500
Phase 2 – Pre-feasibility study 2500
(auger drilling)
Phase 3 – Feasibility study 650,000
(coring, testing, etc.)
Phase 4 – Detailed engineering 52,567,000
Total 53,221,000

residents commuting to nearby cities and 12.7 SUMMARY
has benefited from government aid for urban
regeneration as well as the creation of a na- The ultimate total expenditure to develop
tional forest in the surrounding area. Cliffe a site from greenfield into a productive and
Hill has adapted to these changes by making a profitable quarry is high. The importance,
number of environmental initiatives and im- therefore, of carrying out sufficient exploration
proving communication with the local popula- and testing to guarantee as nearly as possible
tion. In particular a quarry liaison committee, the predicted quality and quantity of mater-
including representatives of local residents, ial is essential. The rapidly increasing cost
local councils, and quarry management, meets of each phase (Table 12.3) emphasizes the
every 3 months. The company also produces necessity for a logical approach, with each
a 6-monthly newspaper to keep residents subsequent phase only being undertaken if
informed of activities at the quarries. clearly warranted by the results from the pre-
Although the existing operations are, at ceding one. In this particular case exploration
least, tolerated by local residents it would be costs accounted for approximately 1.25% of
very difficult to open a new quarry in the area. the total costs of the development of the
Any operation is likely to based on existing quarry operation.
resources.