Open File 1996-24 -
Aggregate Resource Potential of the Prince George Area
by P.T. Bobrowsky, N.W.D. Massey, and A. Matheson
 |
| Location of the Prince George pilot study for aggregate potential
maps. |
Aggregate potential maps provide guidelines for testing, evaluating and
managing aggregate resources within a defined area. The maps provide first approximation
estimates of broad, regional aggregate distribution and are suitable for use by municipal
and landuse planners as well as the aggregate industry.
A pilot study was undertaken in the Prince George area, covering five 1:50 000-scale
map sheets (Red Rock 093G10, Isle Pierre 093G14, Prince George 093G15, Wansa
Creek 093G16, Salmon River 093J02) forming a cross, centered on the city of Prince George and including the major
transportation corridors in the area. The study area has a reasonable endowment of
aggregates but suffers from problems in the management of the resource and conflicts with
other land uses. Methodologies developed here should also be applicable elsewhere in
British Columbia. The project had the support and cooperation of the Ministry of
Transportation and Highways, the Ministry of Forests, the City of Prince George, the
Regional District of Fraser - Fort George, and faculty members of the University of
Northern British Columbia. These partners were invaluable sources of relevant technical
data, and also provided input on the effectiveness of the presentation format of final
products.
Within the Prince George area, 321 individual areas (polygons) have been identified as
significant for hosting potential natural aggregate resources. The polygons are based on
soil and landform units identified and delineated by Farstad (1976a,b,c,d,e) and Dawson
(1989). The potential was assessed by compiling data pertaining to important
geological factors for each of the original 1107 landform polygons within the study area.
Parameters used were landform type, soil type, area of polygon, presence/absence of
historical aggregate extraction, thickness of overburden, gravel thickness and volume.
Each factor was subdivided into several
classes and ranked. The rankings were used to eliminate unfavourable polygons, and to
subdivide the remainder into areas of primary, secondary or tertiary significance.
For the project area, 61 polygons are of primary, 207 of secondary and 53 of
tertiary potential. These comprise 11.8%, 9.2% and 6.0%, respectively, of the total map
area. All other polygons are unclassified (class = U).
The resulting aggregate potential maps have been released as:
P.T. Bobrowsky, P.Geo, N.W.D. Massey, P.Geo., and A. Matheson, P.Geo.
(1996); Aggregate Resource Potential of the Prince George
Area, B.C. Ministry of
Employment and Investment, Open File 1996-24..
Digital versions of the maps are also available for free download
or can be viewed on The Map Place.
All publications of the BC Geological Survey are available
for purchase through Crown Publications Inc. (and
its agents). For questions or more information on geology and minerals in British
Columbia please contact GSB Mailbox or use
the toll free number (B.C.
residents only).
For more information contact:
Vic.Levson@gov.bc.ca
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