In the tech reports geos speak of 'claystone', so past any weathered layers which are probably thin where they exist, i imagine the stuff as being something like the shale pits we have around the coast, it's petrified, some of it pretty firmly here, i've ripped one pit with a D8 and it was working hard, close to the way the harder conglomerates go ... makes great roadbed, you can't get it past the govt specs but as long as you put a good topping it works well ... there are twenty or so loads in a low spot in my driveway, been there thirty years this summer, only started to get pounded down a bit four or five winters ago when i started putting heavy loads through that way in wet weather, had to put more topping and it needs some again, so there's reason behind the govt specs ... but it was cheap, nearby, and sure levels out and pounds down nice, keeps its form if protected from frost/rain ... you can tell it was clay because it becomes that again, just leave a chunk out on a stump all winter, becomes smaller rounder lump in a pool of goop
In the eastern townships and northern Vermont there are highly picturesque old houses and barns with slate roofs - that stuff is clay too, or was, it doesn't return to form readily due to being heat-treated [metamorphosis, if memory from way back serves]
Yes, what will they have to pay SMS ... makes it a little more complex than otherwise, on the other hand those folks would have an interest in the project succeeding, mutual beneficiaries can make good allies and all that ... bottom line though is that if/when the numbers work out well, Orbite is not going to be around in current form, somebody is going to want this, probably an aluminium producer or a consortium of them |
