MGB R02 conducts identification, assessment of possible quarry areas in Batanes

To help the province of Batanes in their construction activities particularly in their infrastructure development, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau ROII recently conducted identification and assessment of possible quarry/sand and gravel areas in municipalities of Basco and Sabtang, in the province.

The technical team which is headed by Engr. Mario A. Ancheta, OIC Regional Director, Engr. Raymond D. Carreon, Officer in Charge of Mine Management Division, Engr. Geoffrey V. Prado, Supervising Senior Science Research Specialist, Maribeth G. Tumaliuan, Mining Claims Examiner III, Lyndee Rose Basilio, Information Officer, and Czarina Reola, MGB embedded geologist in Batanes conducted said identification and assessment in the province.

Four areas in Basco while five sites in Sabtang were identified and assessed.

“The rock outcrop was identified as pyroclastic deposit with distinctive matrix and clast components,” said Reola.

She added that the matrix and its pebble-to coble size clasts can be used as sand and gravel aggregates.

For brgy. San Antonio which is locally known as Chadpidan Boulder Beach is composed of loose pyroclastic deposit while there are rocks of-pebble- to boulder size that lies along the coast.

Reola said that the rocks are predominantly basiltic in composition or simply has a darker colored rocks.

“Most of it are reddish in color due to oxidation of minerals of the rock,” she said.

On the other hand, Sitio Jadvi in Brgy. Malakdang in municipality of Sabtang was also identified and assessed.

“Approximately 15-20 meters of rock outcrop was observed. It is identified as a matrix-supported pyroclastic deposit where more matrix is present that of the clast,” Engr. Prado said.

The supervising SRS said that the matrix and its clasts can be used as sand and gravel aggregates.

Brgy. Kaumbakan in Mahatao, Sitio Savang in Brgy. Itbud in Uyugan, Brgy. San Antonio in Basco, Sitio Jadvi in Brgy. Malakdang, Sitio Maydalin in Brgy. Nakanmuan, Sitio Lupay and Sitio Chipichit in Brgy. Sumnanga,  and Brgy. Nakanmuan were the sites identified and assessed by the technical team that are possible for quarry/sand and gravel activities.

The identification and assessment of areas was requested by Gov. Marilou Cayco during the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) meeting held in Rembrandt Hotel, Quezon City last Nov. 19, 2017.

The identified areas shall address issues on infrastructure projects such as the construction of national, provincial, municipal, and farm to market roads, improvement of the airport, seaports, and other engineering development in the province of Batanes.