Is a gravel pit a good investment?

The initial capital cost of a sand and gravel business is high, but the purchase of a processing plant can be spread over many years. To make this kind of investment worthwhile, at least one large deposit of sand and gravel and a good, long-term market are necessary.

What are the properties of gravel?

Our gravel consists of coarse aggregate in which a high proportion of the particles are rounded and tend toward a generally spherical or equidimensional shape….PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.

Is a gravel pit a mine?

Under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), a pit is defined as “any opening in, excavation in or working of the surface or subsurface made for the purpose of removing sand, gravel, clay or marl, and includes any associated infrastructure but does not include a mine or quarry”.

What is very small gravel called?

Pea gravel: Pea gravel is some of the smallest gravel – typically ½” or smaller in size.

Are gravel pits dangerous?

They are considered dangerous areas for swimmers because the quarry floors can drop off sharply, and hazardous for ice-skaters in the winter, when the ponds appears solidly frozen when they are not, officials said. This summer, police have reported five quarry drownings in the metropolitan area.

Do gravel pits make money?

Quarrying for sand and gravel may not be as exciting as other businesses, but it is still very profitable. Both materials are in huge demand for construction purposes and supplying large amounts can earn you a large pile of money.

What do you call the transformation of gravel?

a. Once particles have been transported to a new area, they must be transformed from a collection of loose sediment into new, solid rock. This process is called lithification (“lith” means stone).

What is Type 2 gravel?

Type 2 crushed concrete is a standard sub-base material and used for roads such as pot-hole filling-in but like Type 1 it can be used for other things like driveways, backfill material, patios, tracks and other paths. It is crushed stone which is less than 40mm in size down to dust with no specified grading.

Why is gravel pit water so blue?

It’s fairly simple: calcium carbonate, the fine limestone powder in the water, reflects the sunlight back and intensifies the naturally blue shade of water.

What can I do with an old gravel pit?

Old, abandoned gravel pits are normally used either as nature reserves, or as amenity areas for water sports, landfills and walking.

What is #2 gravel?

Crushed #2 Gravel. This primarily 1″ crushed, washed gravel with a top size of 1-1/2″ is often used for drainage around perforated pipe, under concrete slabs, and as a coarse driveway topping for soft, very muddy driveways. Suitable as a coarse driveway topping.

What is the smallest gravel?

1B Pea Gravel
1B Pea Gravel is the smallest grade of stone, with an approximate diameter of 1/4″ – 1/2″. It is most commonly used for high-traffic areas such as pathways, playgrounds, and fire pit areas. It can also be used for other applications like french drains and pipe bedding.

Why do gravel pits fill with water?

Gravel pits are excavated in aquifers to fulfill the need for construction materials. Flow-through lakes form when the gravel pits are below the water table and fill with groundwater. The lakes, therefore, cause a loss of freshwater. The creation of water surfaces allows algae and other flora and fauna to develop.

What happens to old gravel pits?

What happens to old gravel pits? Pits and quarries disrupt the existing movement of surface water and groundwater; they interrupt natural water recharge and can lead to reduced quantity and quality of drinking water for residents and wildlife near or downstream from a quarry site.

Is gravel magnetic yes or no?

It is very high in iron, and occasionally even magnetic. It looks almost identical to “Tahitian Moon Sand” if you’ve seen that stuff before.

Where is gravel found in real life?

Gravel is found naturally, mostly in lake, river, and ocean beds, where the constant movement of the water and waves keeps the gravel from settling and fusing with other rocks; sand is a form of micro-gravel, being tiny stones worn down by constant motion.

What is the cheapest type of gravel?

Crushed concrete, sand and gravel mix, and crushed shells are the cheapest stones at $15 per yard. Crusher run, pea gravel, steel slag, and river rock typically cost $50 per yard or more.

What size is number 2 gravel?

This primarily 1″ crushed, washed gravel with a top size of 1-1/2″ is often used for drainage around perforated pipe, under concrete slabs, and as a coarse driveway topping for soft, very muddy driveways.

Why you shouldn’t swim in quarries?

Quarries are extremely dangerous places to swim. Steep drop-offs, deep water, sharp rocks, flooded equipment, submerged wire, and industrial waste make swimming risky. Another risk factor is the very cold water. This groundwater inflow can keep the quarry water very cold even in late summer.

Is it dangerous to live near a quarry?

If the quarries are located in places where there is a living population, people living in the area will also be exposed to dust. Specific reported adverse health effects by people who reside nearby quarry sites include nasal infection, cough, and asthma [13,16].

Is it safe to live near a gravel pit?

The dust from gravel mining may also contain toxins such as heavy metals and radon, both of which cause cancer. Long term exposure to even low levels of diesel exhaust raises the risk of dying from lung cancer about 50% for residents who live near industrial operations, and about 300% for the workers.

Are gravel pits bad for the environment?

The most common impacts of gravel pit development and operations are the lack of conservation of reclamation materials, erosion, dust and noise nuisances, impacts to road condition, negative visual aesthetics and water and soil contamination.

How deep is a gravel pit?

Often sand and gravel quarry operators hit ground water during their digging, converting the pits into swimming ponds, some as deep as 400 feet.

Can gravel be toxic?

In its natural bulk state, sand and gravel is not a known health hazard. Sand and Gravel may be subjected to various natural or mechanical forces that produce small particles (dust) which may contain respirable crystalline silica (particles less than 10 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter).

Is it unhealthy to live near a quarry?

Gravel pits are excavated in aquifers to fulfill the need for construction materials. Flow-through lakes form when the gravel pits are below the water table and fill with groundwater. Here, the drainage system of the low lying land enhances groundwater flow into the lake.

How big is an acre of gravel pit?

The calculations are really easy. You have to know how many acres your gravel pit covers, how deep the gravel bed is (called head), then subtract how deep the overburden is (topsoil) and get your number. Mine is 7 acres in size, and with an acre being 42,000 square feet, and the gravel bed being 32 feet deep, I have 9,362,000 cubic feet of gravel.

What can I do with my gravel pit?

In the past I have sold some gravel to a dairy farmer putting in a big liquid manure pit, a guy building a house who just needed fill, and some nearby road work.

Who is the owner of the gravel pit?

This year, after years of being idle, the town is rebuilding my road so its being resuscitated. Here anyway, it is bought from the pit owner by the cubic yard. The loader operator (I was one for two years) has a trip meter on his loader and counts the bucket loads of gravel that go over the screen or into the trucks.

What should I do if I find gravel on my land?

50 years of farming with an average yield of $200/acre in net revenue = $10,000/acre over 50 years. If there is a mineable deposit on your property that averages anywhere from 8 to 25 feet in depth of recoverable sand & gravel, your land would be hosting a deposit that is worth anywhere from $40,000 to over $120,000 per acre in royalties!

The calculations are really easy. You have to know how many acres your gravel pit covers, how deep the gravel bed is (called head), then subtract how deep the overburden is (topsoil) and get your number. Mine is 7 acres in size, and with an acre being 42,000 square feet, and the gravel bed being 32 feet deep, I have 9,362,000 cubic feet of gravel.

In the past I have sold some gravel to a dairy farmer putting in a big liquid manure pit, a guy building a house who just needed fill, and some nearby road work.

This year, after years of being idle, the town is rebuilding my road so its being resuscitated. Here anyway, it is bought from the pit owner by the cubic yard. The loader operator (I was one for two years) has a trip meter on his loader and counts the bucket loads of gravel that go over the screen or into the trucks.

How much does a gravel pit loader cost?

A ton truck holds 3 yards, a single axle dump truck holds 7 yards, a “wheeler” (2 axles) holds 14 yards, and a tri-axle holds 21 yards. I used a 4-5 yard loader and most days I moved 2000 yards a day. That means $4000 for the pit owner!!