The cap figure shows a limestone quarry proposed near a village in the Peak District. The site contains rough grassland, a small stream and an abandoned she...
Question 1 Report
The cap figure shows a limestone quarry proposed near a village in the Peak District. The site contains rough grassland, a small stream and an abandoned sheep barn. A construction company says the quarry will supply stone for roads and create jobs. A local ecology group has found orchids and nesting birds within the proposed extraction area. This rural land-use enquiry considers how mineral resources can be exploited and then restored.
(a) Identify the mineral resource proposed for extraction. [1]
(b) State one use of the mineral after it has been processed. [2]
(c) Describe two environmental impacts likely during quarry construction or operation. [4]
(d) Explain how quarrying could affect the stream ecosystem shown in Fig. 1. [7]
(e) Describe three economic or social advantages that the quarry could bring to the village. [6]
(f) Outline a restoration plan that would make the site more valuable for wildlife after extraction ends. [10]
Answer Details
(a) The mineral proposed for extraction is limestone. [1]
(b) Limestone can be processed into road stone or aggregate, or used to make cement and building materials. [2]
(c) Quarrying can remove vegetation and habitats. It can also create dust, noise and heavy-vehicle traffic, alter the landscape visually and increase soil erosion. Any two developed impacts. [4]
(d) Soil and dust can be washed into the stream. Sediment makes water cloudy, reducing light for aquatic plants, and can cover eggs or riverbed habitats. Fuel or oil runoff may pollute the water, reducing water quality and oxygen levels, so aquatic invertebrates and fish may decline. [7]
(e) The quarry could create direct jobs and work for haulage firms and local suppliers. It supplies local stone for construction, workers may spend in village shops, and tax or business rates may support services. Training or apprenticeships are also possible. Any three developed benefits. [6]
(f) A wildlife-focused restoration plan should retain and replace topsoil, regrade quarry faces to safe slopes, and create shallow ponds or wetland. Plant native grassland, shrubs and locally sourced wildflower seed; retain rock ledges for nesting birds; create stream buffers; control invasive species; monitor plants and birds; and manage access to limit disturbance. [10]
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