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87 <br /> LAND-MINERAL RESOURCES IN THE RURAL BUFFER <br /> DATA ANALYSIS: GEOLOGIC RESOURCES <br /> I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: <br /> The geologic factors relevant to land use planning <br /> include existing mineral deposits which are actively being <br /> mined or those which have potential for commercial extrac- <br /> tion. in addition to areas where the soil depth is shallow <br /> (less than 5) over hard rock. Certain geologic formations <br /> such as faults. shear zones. and joint/fracture locations <br /> should also be considered. Most of these have been mapped on <br /> an overlay to the topographic relief map. <br /> II. FINDINGS: _ <br /> The following is a list of active or inactive quarries. <br /> prospects. and pits located in the Joint Planning Area: <br /> Chapel Hill Gravel Pits - Billy C. Merritt - (active) <br /> Laurel Hill Quartz Prospect - (inactive) <br /> Chapel Hill Quarry - American Stone Company (crushed stone) '- <br /> (active) <br /> Duke Forest Gold Prospect - (inactive) <br /> Mellott Gravel Pit in Univ. L. Area. Carrboro <br /> There are also numerous sites of shallow depth of soil <br /> over unweathered rock. In addition. there are two fault <br /> locations and a shear zone within the Rural Buffer. <br /> III. ISSUES/IMPLICATIONS: <br /> Geology affects many of the other natural resources. <br /> For example. topography• soil types and their erodibility are <br /> directly related to the underlying rock formations. Ground <br /> water movement and availability including location of aqui- <br /> fers are influenced by the texture of bedrock and by frac- <br /> tures and joints within the rocks. Faults and shear zones <br /> should be considered when locating dams. power plants. or <br /> industrial sites. Geology also affects solid waste disposal. <br /> Mineral resources in general are vital to industry. The <br /> existing gravel pits are important for road construction. <br /> Those sites where the soil depth is less than five feet over <br /> hard rock would be accompanied by increased construction <br /> costs. depending on the type of development planned. <br /> IV. REFERENCES: <br /> 1. Geology and liinera1 Resources_ of Orange County' N.C. , <br /> Bulletin 81. published in 1968 by NCDCD Div. of Mineral <br /> Resources. Written by Eldon P. Allen and William F. <br /> Wilson. <br /> 2. Triangle J 208 Areawide Water Quality Management Plan <br /> Inventory of Existing Resources. TJCOG. March 1976. <br /> • <br />