The National Mineral Resource Map of Wales.

This manuscript describes a new map displaying the mineral resources of Wales, produced by the British Geological Survey. This is the first time mineral resources have been displayed on a national extent using a consistent methodology for Wales. This work recognises that it is essential that minerals are used in the most efficient and sustainable manner so that they can continue to make a vital contribution to the economy of Wales. These maps will assist local authorities to deliver national planning policy by depicting the location and extent of mineral resources throughout Wales in a consistent fashion and facilitate the development of more effective and sustainable management strategies

An enhanced classification of artificial ground

This report describes a detailed scheme for the mapping and recording of artificial ground. It presents codes and descriptions that underpin the entries in the British Geological Survey stratigraphical lexico

The mineral resource maps of Wales

Minerals are essential for the development of a modern economy, but mineral resources are finite and they can only be worked where they occur. As their extraction is subject to a number of constraints, it is essential that society uses minerals in the most efficient and sustainable manner. Identifying the distribution of known mineral resources in Wales and presenting them in a consistent fashion across the whole country allows minerals to be considered with other land-use information and permits more effective and sustainable management strategies to be developed. The British Geological Survey has undertaken a commission through its Mineral Resources and Policy team, led from the BGS Cardiff office, to prepare for the Welsh Assembly Government a series of six mineral resources maps which cover the whole of the Principality of Wales. This work was completed in June 2010 and the series of digitally generated maps at a scale of 1:100 000 are now available. Theses maps cover the 25 Unitary and Mineral Planning Authority areas of Wales. Wales contains a wide range of minerals, many of which have been exploited since historical times. There are still significant energy resources in the coalfields of South and North-east Wales, limestones and sandstones across Wales with a range of aggregate and industrial uses and significant deposits of sand, gravel and clay. These resources are important national assets and adequate and steady supplies are needed to maintain current and future economic development. The major elements of minerals information presented on the maps are: The geological distribution of all onshore (above low water mark) mineral resources in Wales The location of mineral extraction sites The recorded occurrences of metallic minerals The recorded location of former slate quarries and significant areas of slate waste The recorded location of historic building stone quarrie

Aggregates safeguarding maps of Wales

This is a short descriptive summary to accompany the six 1:100 000 scale aggregates safeguarding maps which have been published as part of the Mineral Maps of Wales project. As mineral resources are finite and are not evenly distributed, knowledge about their whereabouts is essential for making effective and sustainable planning decisions that consider the needs of future generations. Access to mineral resources can be prevented or restricted (sterilised) by non-mineral development and the process of ‘mineral safeguarding’ ensures that this does not occur unnecessarily when planning applications are determined. An effective safeguarding system requires the adoption of ‘mineral safeguarding areas’ and the adoption of suitable policies through which development is managed in these areas. The aggregates safeguarding maps have been compiled to assist Mineral Planning Authorities (MPAs) in the delineation of aggregates safeguarding areas in Local Development Plans