Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T20:53:05.788Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Clay resources in the Netherlands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2016

M.J. van der Meulen ,
D. Maljers ,
S.F. van Gessel  and
S.H.L.L. Gruijters
M.J. van der Meulen*
Affiliation:
TNO Built Environment and Geosciences - Geological Survey of the Netherlands, PO Box 80015, NL-3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands
D. Maljers
Affiliation:
TNO Built Environment and Geosciences - Geological Survey of the Netherlands, PO Box 80015, NL-3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands
S.F. van Gessel
Affiliation:
TNO Built Environment and Geosciences - Geological Survey of the Netherlands, PO Box 80015, NL-3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands
S.H.L.L. Gruijters
Affiliation:
TNO Built Environment and Geosciences - Geological Survey of the Netherlands, PO Box 80015, NL-3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands
*
*Corresponding author. Email:[email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Clay is a common lithology in the Dutch shallow subsurface. It is used in earth constructions such as dikes, and as raw material for the fabrication of bricks, roof tiles etc. We present a new national assessment of Dutch clay resources, as part of a project that provides mineral-occurrence information for land-use planning purposes. The assessment is based on a 3D geological model, which consists of voxel cells with lithological composition as primary attribute, and has been obtained by interpolating data of more than 380,000 digital borehole descriptions. The occurrence of shell material and the extent to which clay is peaty were used as quality attributes, enabling us to tentatively distinguish between clay that is potentially suitable as ceramic material, and clay that is not.

As clay is extracted using dry (i.e. non-dredging) techniques, the model space has been dimensioned to fully encompass the unsaturated zone. A high-resolution model (with voxel cells of 250 · 250 · 0.2 m), based mainly on abundant, good-quality hand drillings, was constructed down to 3 m below the surface. This depth range suffices for clay-resource assessments in the lowlands, which have relatively high groundwater levels. Cells from a lower-resolution model (250 · 250 · 1 m, based on fewer data) were added to reach appropriate depths in upland areas.

We arrive at about 42.1 km3 of clay occurring in the model space (land areas only). Clay occurs mainly in the coastal domain and below the Rhine and Meuse river plains. Geological exploitability has been assessed within the unsaturated zone, taking overburden and intercalations with non-clay materials (especially peat) into account. The resulting exploitable stock is 12.3 to 18.0 (± 2.0) km3; an estimate in which the main source of uncertainty is presented by a lack of proper groundwater-table data. This amount equates to roughly 6000 annual consumption equivalents. Even when considering that the larger part of the clays is unsuitable for firing, and about one quarter is situated below built-up lands or nature preserves, clay is not a scarce resource in the Netherlands and supplies should present no problem in the near future.

Keywords

Netherlandsclayresource assessmentbuilding materialsconstruction materialsstructural-ceramics industryearth constructions
Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 86 , Issue 2 , July 2007 , pp. 117 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2007

References

Anonymous, 1989. NEN 5104:1989, Geotechnics; Classification of unconsolidated soil samples. Netherlands Normalisation Institute (NEN; Delft, NL): 24 pp.Google Scholar
Anonymous, , 1990. NEN 5104:1989/C1, Geotechnics; Classification of unconsolidated soil samples (amendment). Netherlands Normalisation Institute (NEN; Delft, NL): 1 pp.Google Scholar
Anonymous, , 2001. Code for reporting of mineral exploration results, mineral resources and mineral reserves (the reporting code). Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (London, UK), European Federation of Geologists (Brussels, B), Geological Society of London, Institute of Geologists of Ireland (Dublin, IE): 34 pp.Google Scholar
Anonymous, , 2004. Nota Ruimte. Ministry of Spatial Planning, Housing and the Environment (The Hague, NL): 50 pp.Google Scholar
De Mulder, E.F.J., Geluk, M.C., Ritsema, I. Westerhoff, W.E. & Wong, Th.E., 2003. De ondergrond van Nederland. Wolters Noordhof (Groningen, NL): 379 pp.Google Scholar
Helmer, W., Klink, A., Overmars, W. & Litjens, G., 1992. Levende Rivieren (in Dutch). World Wildlife Fund (WWF) (Zeist, NL): 28 pp.Google Scholar
Kooijman, J., 2003. Haalbaarheidsstudie Authentieke Registratie DINO - Eindrapportage (in Dutch). TNO Built Environment and Geosciences (Utrecht, NL): 42 pp.Google Scholar
Peersmann, M.R.H.E., 2005. Geo-Informatieprogramma 2005 (Geo-Information program 2005, in Dutch). TNO Built Environment and Geosciences (Utrecht, NL): 200 pp.Google Scholar
Sigmond, G.J.A, Hund, J.B.A. & Van der Meulen, M.J., 2001. Ruimte voor Rijntakken: inventarisatie kleivoorkomens. Road and Hydraulic Engineering Institute (Delft, NL) report DWW-2001-094 / Publicatiereeks Grondstoffen 2001/11: 24 pp.Google Scholar
TNO, 2007a. Delfstoffen Online (Minerals Online, web service for minerals information, in Dutch), www.delfstoffenonline.nl.Google Scholar
TNO, 2007b. Dinoloket (internet portal for geo-information). dinoloket.tno.nl.Google Scholar
Van der Meulen, M.J., Koopmans, T.P.F. & Pietersen, H.S., 2003a. Construction raw materials policy and supply practices in Northwestern Europe. In: Elsen, J., Degryse, P. (eds): Industrial Minerals - Resources, Characteristics and Applications. Aardkundige Mededelingen 13: 19–30.Google Scholar
Van der Meulen, M.J., De Lang, F.D., Maljers, D., Dubelaar, C.W. & Westerhoff, W.E., 2003b. Grondsoorten en Delfstoffen bij Naam (in Dutch: a dictionary of soil materials and quarry products). Road and Hydraulic Institute (Delft, NL) and TN0 Built Environment and Geosciences (Utrecht, NL), ISBN 90-369-5549-1: 96 pp.Google Scholar
Van der Meulen, M.J., De Kleine, M.P.E., Veldkamp, J.G., Dubelaar, C.W. & Pietersen, H.S., 2004. The sand extraction potential of embedded land surface lowering in the Netherlands. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 83(2): 147–151.Google Scholar
Van der Meulen, M.J., 2005a. De bouwgrondstoffentoets doorgrond. TNO Built Environment and Geosciences (Utrecht, NL), Report NITG 05–035-A: 30 pp.Google Scholar
Van der Meulen, M.J., 2005b. Sustainable mineral development: possibilities and pitfalls illustrated by the rise and fall of Dutch mineral planning guidance. In: Petterson, M., McEvoy, F., & Marker, B.R. (eds): Sustainable minerals operations in the developing world. Geological Society of London (UK), Special Publications 250: 225–232.Google Scholar
Van der Meulen, M.J., Van Gessel, S.F. & Veldkamp, J.G., 2005. Aggregate resources in the Netherlands. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 84(3): 379–387.Google Scholar
Van der Meulen, M.J., Broers, J.W., Hakstege, A.L., Van Heijst, M.W.I.M., Koopmans, T.P.F. & Pietersen, H.S., in press. Surface Mineral Resources. In: Wong, Th.E., Batjes, D.A.J. & De Jager, J. (eds): The Geology of the Netherlands. Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW; Amsterdam, NL), pp. 313–329.Google Scholar
Van der Meulen, M.J., Rijnveld, M., Gerrits, L.M., Joziasse, J., Van Heijst, M.W.I.M. & Gruijters, S.H.L.L., 2006. Handling sediments in Dutch river management: the planning stage of the Maaswerken river widening project. Journal of Soils and Sediments 6(3): 163–172.Google Scholar
Van der Zvian, J.T., 1990. Inventarisatie van kleivoorkomens in Nederland geschikt voor de grof-keramische industrie en de dijkbouw. Road and Hydraulic Engineering Institute (Delft, NL) report TW-R-89-4: 36 pp.Google Scholar
Van Wijck, J.H., 1997. Grofkeramische kleien in Nederland. Klei, Glas, Keramiek 18 (10): 14–17.Google Scholar
Weerts, H.J.T., Schokker, J., Rijsdijk, K.F. & Laban, C., 2004. Geologische overzichtskaart van Nederland / Geological map of the Netherlands. TNO Built Environment and Geosciences - Geological Survey of the Netherlands (Utrecht, NL).Google Scholar