Case Study - Kings Lynn Quarry - Pt 3

Quarrying Operations

The extraction areas are worked in a phased manner with interim restoration both in accordance with approved plans and planning conditions. The overburden materials (soils, sub-soils and clays) are removed separately by backactor and dumptrucks and either placed directly into a restoration area or into temporary screening or stockpiling areas.

The underlying sand is also extracted by backactor with dumptrucks transporting the sand to a holding stockpile adjacent to the processing works. This method of quarrying allows for efficient blending of sands from the quarry thereby helping to ensure consistent raw sand feed to the processing plant. The local groundwater table is normally encountered and dewatering takes place in order to facilitate dry working of the full mineral depth. Dry working is required to ensure that only sand of the appropriate quality is transferred to the processing works. This is tested by regular quarry face sampling.

When any area is worked out of sand reserves, overburden materials from the site can be placed and contoured in accordance with approved designs as part of the ongoing interim restoration.