Potential for stratiform base-metal sulphides in SW England

The British Geological Survey (BGS) has recently re-evaluated the potential for stratiform base-metal sulphide mineralisation in Devon and east Cornwall (Rollin et al., 2001) (Figure 1). On the basis of their stratigraphy and tectonic setting the Lower Carboniferous strata between, and to the north of, Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor are favourable targets for Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB)-type deposits (Figure 2). Similarly, the geological setting of the Middle to Upper Devonian sediments of Exmoor, north Devon, are comparable with those of the Harz basin in Germany which hosts the major polymetallic Sedex deposits at Rammelsburg and Meggen

Tectonic and climatic considerations for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste: a UK perspective

Identifying and evaluating the factors that might impact on the long-term integrity of a deep Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) and its surrounding geological and surface environment is central to developing a safety case for underground disposal of radioactive waste. The geological environment should be relatively stable and its behaviour adequately predictable so that scientifically sound evaluations of the long-term radiological safety of a GDF can be made. In considering this, it is necessary to take into account natural processes that could affect a GDF or modify its geological environment up to 1 million years into the future. Key processes considered in this paper include those which result from plate tectonics, such as seismicity and volcanism, as well as climate-related processes, such as erosion, uplift and the effects of glaciation. Understanding the inherent variability of process rates, critical thresholds and likely potential influence of unpredictable perturbations represent significant challenges to predicting the natural environment. From a plate-tectonic perspective, a one million year time frame represents a very short segment of geological time and is largely below the current resolution of observation of past processes. Similarly, predicting climate system evolution on such time-scales, particularly beyond 200 ka AP is highly uncertain, relying on estimating the extremes within which climate and related processes may vary with reasonable confidence. The paper highlights some of the challenges facing a deep geological disposal program in the UK to review understanding of the natural changes that may affect siting and design of a GDF

Environmental and economic information for aggregates provision

This report describes a one-year research project entitled ‘Environmental and economic information systems for aggregates provision’. This project is an extension to previous research on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and future aggregates extraction, which was carried out by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and reported in early 2004 (Steadman, et al., 2004). Both phases of the research were co-funded by the BGS and the Mineral Industry Sustainable Technology Programme (MIST). Environmental, economic and social information are essential for sustainable planning for the provision of aggregates. There is a need to bring together disparate information relating to aggregate extraction. Datasets include the location of resources and their potential end-uses, as well as those on the environment and transport. Bringing this digital information together into one location or system will assist in supporting a more balanced and informed approach to the decision making process. A number of regulatory mechanisms are currently driving the gathering and compilation of relevant environmental, economic and social information. Current drivers for information relevant to aggregate provision include environmental appraisal of the provision of aggregates, SEA and Sustainability Appraisal (SA). The objective of this research was to provide an interactive ‘tool’ or information system for the minerals industry, land-use planners and other stakeholders to use when considering options for future aggregate provision. The study area for the research was the East Midlands Region of England. The project had three main deliverables: 1. To provide an online Geographic Information System (GIS) to access the ‘environmental sensitivity’ map which was developed for the East Midlands Region during the first phase of research; 2. to compile aggregate end-use suitability maps for the East Midland Region; and 3. to hold a stakeholder consultation exercise and dissemination seminars. Each of these was met within the agreed timeframe. The environmental sensitivity map information and associated attributes have been made available on the internet via the BGS ‘Minerals information online’ web GIS for the East Midlands Region (www.mineralsuk.com/web_gis). Accommodating these data in a web GIS environment has entailed some compromises on data resolution and system functionality. A methodology has been developed to integrate a range of aggregate technical property data. This can be used to summarise the distribution of aggregate resources suitable for particular end-uses. These summary technical data are useful in communicating issues of variable aggregate quality and economic value to non-technical stakeholders in the mineral planning process. Availability of appropriate technical property data for different aggregate resources across a wide geographical area is critical in developing these maps. Feedback from an extensive consultation and dissemination exercise has generally been very positive. Two critiques by independent consultants of the environmental sensitivity map were also undertaken. These were deemed an important aspect of the consultation process. Stakeholders raised several issues. There were some concerns about updating and maintenance of asset data and about the lack of social information. In addition, some fundamental issues of approach (particularly asset weighting) raised in the previous phase of this research resurfaced during this consultation. Environmental sensitivity mapping will be carried out for the whole of England by the BGS in the near future. The data will be made available online as each region becomes available. It is anticipated that the mineral GISs for all regions of England (except London) will be completed by December 2005. New datasets may be added to the environmental sensitivity layer as they become available. The research into end-use suitability maps will be carried on by the BGS under its Minerals Programme, with the support of co-funding where possible. The project team continue to welcome feedback and criticism of this research

National geological screening : East Anglia region

This report is the published product of one of a series of studies covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland commissioned by Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) Ltd. The report provides geological information about the East Anglia region to underpin the process of national geological screening set out in the UK’s government White Paper Implementing geological disposal: a framework for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste (DECC, 2014). The report describes geological features relevant to the safety requirements of a geological disposal facility (GDF) for radioactive waste emplaced onshore and up to 20 km offshore at depths between 200 and 1000 m from surface. It is written for a technical audience but is intended to inform RWM in its discussions with communities interested in finding out about the potential for their area to host a GDF

National geological screening : the Hampshire Basin and adjoining areas

This report is the published product of one of a series of studies covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland commissioned by Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) Ltd. The report provides geological information about the Hampshire Basin and adjoining areas region to underpin the process of national geological screening set out in the UK’s government White Paper Implementing geological disposal: a framework for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste (DECC, 2014). The report describes geological features relevant to the safety requirements of a geological disposal facility (GDF) for radioactive waste emplaced onshore and up to 20 km offshore at depths between 200 and 1000 m from surface. It is written for a technical audience but is intended to inform RWM in its discussions with communities interested in finding out about the potential for their area to host a GDF

National geological screening : the Wealden district

This report is the published product of one of a series of studies covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland commissioned by Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) Ltd. The report provides geological information about the Wealden district region to underpin the process of national geological screening set out in the UK’s government White Paper Implementing geological disposal: a framework for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste (DECC, 2014). The report describes geological features relevant to the safety requirements of a geological disposal facility (GDF) for radioactive waste emplaced onshore and up to 20 km offshore at depths between 200 and 1000 m from surface. It is written for a technical audience but is intended to inform RWM in its discussions with communities interested in finding out about the potential for their area to host a GDF

National geological screening : Northern England region

This report is the published product of one of a series of studies covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland commissioned by Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) Ltd. The report provides geological information about the Northern England region to underpin the process of national geological screening set out in the UK’s government White Paper Implementing geological disposal: a framework for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste (DECC, 2014). The report describes geological features relevant to the safety requirements of a geological disposal facility (GDF) for radioactive waste emplaced onshore and up to 20 km offshore at depths between 200 and 1000 m from surface. It is written for a technical audience but is intended to inform RWM in its discussions with communities interested in finding out about the potential for their area to host a GDF

National geological screening : London and the Thames Valley

This report is the published product of one of a series of studies covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland commissioned by Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) Ltd. The report provides geological information about the London and the Thames Valley region to underpin the process of national geological screening set out in the UK Government’s White Paper Implementing geological disposal: a framework for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste (DECC, 2014). The report describes geological features relevant to the safety requirements of a geological disposal facility (GDF) for radioactive waste emplaced onshore and up to 20 km offshore at depths between 200 and 1000 m from surface. It is written for a technical audience but is intended to inform RWM in its discussions with communities interested in finding out about the potential for their area to host a GDF

National geological screening : Wales

This report is the published product of one of a series of studies covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland commissioned by Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) Ltd. The report provides geological information about Wales to underpin the process of national geological screening set out in the UK’s government White Paper Implementing geological disposal: A framework for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive waste (DECC, 2014). The report describes geological features relevant to the safety requirements of a geological disposal facility (GDF) for radioactive waste emplaced onshore and up to 20 km offshore at depths between 200 and 1000 m from surface. It is written for a technical audience but is intended to inform RWM in its discussions with communities interested in finding out about the potential for their area to host a GDF