Sand and gravel resources of the Lothian region of Scotland

This report is based upon published information, unpublished records in the Institute’s files and recent observations in the field. It relates to resources and not to reserves. In the quantitative calculations little account has been taken of restraints to working the deposits, except that built-up areas have been indicated and mentioned in the text. Conservation and amenity considerations have been given only passing mention in the knowledge that detailed advice on these aspects can be had from the Nature Conservancy Council, 12 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh EH9 2AS. The report has been assembled on the basis of information available at 30 April 1976. It is inevitably incomplete because of the uneven data cover. All quantities are approximate and, without doubt, silt, clay and other unsuitable materials have been included in places in the gross calculations. No account has been taken of deposits less than 2 m thick. For each District the resources have been divided wherever possible into those above and those below the water table, so that the comparison can be made between the resources available to methods of extraction traditional in Scotland and resources available in some places by dredging. A list of working sand and gravel pits in each District, all of which were visited between February and April 1976, is given. For many areas detailed records are available for consultation at the Institute of Geological Sciences, Murchison House, ‘West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA. Mr McAdam has prepared the chapters on the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian, and has also compiled the whole report. Mr Collins contributed the chapter on West Lothian.