Natural Aggregate Resources

NATURAL AGGREGATE resources of the Front Range are extremely large; however they are not always close to market areas, or they may not meet the exacting specifications required for specific uses. In addition environmental controls and land-use conflicts further limit aggregate availability. For example, prime aggregate resources are precluded from development if permanent structures such as parking lots, houses, or other buildings are constructed over them. Once development has taken place, for whatever purpose, the value of the improvements probably will permanently preclude any further development of natural aggregate at that location. These factors can have a tremendous impact on the costs of construction--both for government and the private sector. In order for the Nation to meet its future demands for construction aggregate at the most reasonable prices, it is necessary to understand the availability and quality of aggregate, as well as the complex interrelationships among the factors described above.

To meet the needs for information on aggregate resources the study includes 1) detailed mapping and modeling of the location, thickness, and quality of sand and gravel resources, 2) location and quality of potential sources of crushed stone resources, and 3) study of the geologic, hydrologic, and other environmental factors in reclamation after aggregate extraction.

Natural Aggregate Research and Support Activities
All About Aggregate	Natural Aggregates Primer	Aggregate Fact Sheet	Introduction to Aggregate Deposit Models
Research Activities	Schmidt Rebound Hammer Study	Shallow Geophysics	Approaches to Reclamation
	Decision Support System	Aggregate Resources Map		National Aggregate Resources Interactive Maps
Products & People		Digital Data	Publications		Personnel