What permits does a gravel pit need in Alberta?

Pits on Crown land need a Public Lands Act surface material lease; pits on private land register under the EPEA Code of Practice for Pits, plus a municipal development permit and reclamation security. Municipalities may charge a Community Aggregate Payment levy of up to $0.40/t.

INTERACTIVE MAP · PUBLIC DATA

Alberta gravel pits and aggregate map

Surficial sand and gravel deposits with aggregate potential from the AGS, permitted quarriable and salt mine boundaries from Alberta Energy, and surficial geology for context.

Aggregate is Alberta's largest mineral by value and tonnage, roughly 55–75 Mt a year. Deposits near Edmonton and Calgary are being depleted or built over, so haul distance increasingly sets the price.

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QUESTIONS THIS MAP ANSWERS

Frequently asked

What permits does a gravel pit need in Alberta?: Pits on Crown land need a Public Lands Act surface material lease; pits on private land register under the EPEA Code of Practice for Pits, plus a municipal development permit and reclamation security. Municipalities may charge a Community Aggregate Payment levy of up to $0.40/t. More

DATA BEHIND THIS MAP (4)

Official sources

Surficial sand & gravel deposits (DIG 2015-0027)Alberta Geological Survey · Surficial geology · drawableDirect aggregate and placer target layer; also screens silica sand and construction supply near demand centres.
Metallic, placer, quarriable & salt mine boundariesAlberta Energy and Minerals · Mines & operations · drawableOfficial footprints of non-energy mines and brine fields.
Surficial geology of Alberta (Map 601 tiles)Alberta Geological Survey · Surficial geology · drawableCover type and thickness proxy; controls aggregate, placer, peat and indicator-mineral dispersal trains.
Bedrock topography (DIG 2020-0022 tiles)Alberta Geological Survey · Structure, depth & isopach · drawableBuried valleys and bedrock highs: where cover is thin (cheap stripping) and where preglacial gravels pool.

COMMODITY PROFILES

Reserves, value and feasibility

Sand & gravel aggregate Silica sand Gold

Operations on this map

Peace River frac-sand quarrySilica sand · Source Energy ServicesOperating
Sil Industrial Minerals — BruderheimSilica sand · Sil Industrial MineralsOperating
Firebag silica (AMI Silica)Silica sand · Athabasca Minerals / AMI Silica (Badger Mining)Permitting
Susan Lake gravel pitAggregate pit · Athabasca Minerals / Fort McKay partnersOperating

Frequently asked

Official sources

Reserves, value and feasibility

Operations on this map

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