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E-14 D a v i d M. M i c k e I s o n Environmental �� Professor and Glacial Geologist IF • January 28, 1998 Mr. William G. Buglass Fitchburg Minerals 6295 Lacy Rd. Fitchburg, \VI 53593 Dear Bill: This is in response to your request for an opinion on the quality of a gravel deposit on property owned by C. and D. Herfel in the SE 1/4 of section 28, T 6 N, R 8 E. The sand and gravel here is outwash sand and gravel deposited by a glacial meltwater river that once flowed down what is now the valley of Badger Mill Creek and then down the Sugar River. I have examined photographs of test pits dug at the site and am familiar with deposits in this general setting from observation and mapping experience in the county. The deposit consists of sandy gravel with cobbles up to about 4-6 inches in diameter with a finer gravel and sand matrix. The deposit is covered with a few feet of overburden consisting of silt and clay with some sand. This overburden depth is not unusual on outwash in valleys like this throughout southern Wisconsin. Based on what I have seen, the quality of the gravel appears to be excellent and the size of the deposit is limited by the extent of the property available, not by the extent of the gravel. The amount of fines that will have to be washed out should be relatively small, assuming that the overburden is set aside. Sand and gravel appropriate for use as aggregate has limited distribution in southern Wisconsin. It does not occur everywhere, but only where glacial meltwater streams happened to deposit it, and where it is coarse enough to be useful. For instance, the sand and gravel in the Sugar River valley gets finer, and therefore less desirable as coarse aggregate, downstream from the site in question. Many of the deposits in central Dane County are no longer available as aggregate sources because of urban and suburban development. This development uses large amounts of aggregate. As hauling distances increase, there is an increase in both public and private cost in dollars and energy usage. Thus, it is a benefit to the community as a whole to have aggregate mined close to it location of use. In summary, this property appears to have excellent potential as a source of aggregate based on what I have seen of the quality of the gravel. Its location adjacent to a state highway, proximity to county roads, and relative closeness to where the aggregate will be used also increase its potential as a source of aggregate. If you have further questions, please let me know. S ncer ly, • avid M. Nickelson 2166 Keyes Avenue Department of Geology and Geophysics Madison, Wisconsin 53711 (608) 257-1825 1215 West Dayton Street Madison, Wisconsin 53719 mickelson @geology.wisc.edu (608) 262-7863 • FAX (608) 262-0693