COASTAL SUPERQUARRY - DESIGN AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF RODEL QUARRYON SOUTH HARRIS, OUTER HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND

A description is given of the approach that has been taken to the desi gn of a 550 000 000-t superquarry with a planned life of 60 years that has been proposed for development on Harris, which lies at the southe rn end of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The quarr y has been designed to replicate a corrie and a sea loch and will incl ude excavated slopes more than 570 m high. The main geological and phy sical controls on the layout and the choice of development method are outlined. The phasing of the operation is presented and the geotechnic al constraints on slope design and the feasibility of alternative quar ry limits are discussed. Environmental considerations have been domina nt in planning and the quarry has been specifically designed for closu re.