Rock chalk: a cost-effective deep fill aggregate

1A fill rock chalk is ideal for use in the construction industry due to its strength, versatility, porous quality and cost-effectiveness.

It is especially relevant in the current climate, where the demand for recycled fill aggregates is outweighing supply and alternatives are being sought. Our 1A fill rock chalk can be effectively used as a deep fill engineering material and TJ is engaging with clients to promote it as one of the most competitively-priced primary aggregate options.

Butser rock chalk, which is sourced from TJ’s quarry in Butser, Petersfield, is chalk that is akin to limestone rather than standard chalk, meaning it’s a very strong and hard wearing material.

The chalk is utilised in several forms – crushed chalk, ‘as dug’ chalk, gabion rock chalk and agglime chalk. As well as being very strong, rock chalk is also porous, which makes it ideal for construction projects where good drainage is key.

The as dug chalk – or bulk fill rock chalk – is ideal for construction projects as a primary general fill aggregate. It is most commonly used for fill, laid over terram to raise and level natural ground ready for a Type 1 sub-base. This is TJ’s most popular chalk product and is great value for money because it is locally sourced whereas alternatives such as limestone, granite and basalt would have to be quarried from the Mendips and Midlands and transported to the South by rail, which leads to inflated cost.

The ‘as dug’ chalk is used as a temporary base or infill for construction projects and works well for these purposes as it is naturally hard. The gabion rock chalk is used within wire baskets as support for soil banks. The agglime part of the chalk is a powder-like material that is spread over agricultural fields to make the ground more fertile.

Butser Quarry

• TJ purchased Butser Quarry in 2017 and quarrying began in 2018.
• The team at Butser are able to extract, crush, load and deliver as much as 1,450 tonnes of chalk in a single day!
• Butser is home to a number of vehicles that are used to extract and process the chalk including an excavator, crusher, shovel loader and bulldozer.
• A TJ truckload of chalk equates to around 20 tonnes’ worth!
• Butser Quarry employs six full-time members of staff.
• TJ supports the work of the Environment Agency who regularly carry out land analysis of the quarry. TJ is happy to comply to ensure high quality materials are being sourced and provided to our customers.

A bit of history…

There’s a rich history of rock chalk being used for construction in the local area. TJ’s Chairman, Terry Higgins, recalls seeing chalk from Portsdown Hill being used in the early stages of the construction of Port Solent, a 36 hectare waterside development site occupying what used to be the shallow, impounded Paulsgrove Lake and surrounding derelict land. A concrete retaining wall was constructed and approximately 600,000m3 of chalk – the chosen imported fill material – was placed to a maximum thickness of 5m for land reclamation behind the wall.

Our service to you

Not only can we offer you a superb product that can be used for your groundwork and construction projects, we also offer a great all-round service to go with it. We can:

• Offer you information and guidance about the product and advise on quantities prior to purchase.
• Deliver the bulk fill rock chalk to your site at a date a time to suit you – this can be as soon as next day delivery.
• Have our fleet of vehicles readily available to deliver your order whatever the quantity.
• Work with you to devise a delivery schedule so you receive the order in batches as and when you need it.

What’s new at Butser Quarry?

Rubble disposal

We offer free rubble disposal at Butser Quarry – we accept rubble, hardcore, concrete, bricks, paving slabs, stone and asphalt. 

To unload, you simply need to hold a waste carrier’s licence and be wearing a hard hat, hi-vis top and steel toed boots to ensure your safety. Find out all you need to know about registering as a waste carrier…

We crush the hardcore and use it to make several recycled aggregates that we produce in-house, including our Type 1 iBlend and 6F5 Crushed Concrete. This process not only provides eco-friendly, sustainable aggregates, it also provides an alternative pathway for rubble, diverting it from landfill.

Aggregate collection

We now offer an aggregate collection service at Butser, with same-day collection available. Simply order and pay online, then collect at a time that suits you. Aggregates are processed per tonne and available in quantities of 1 – 20 tonnes.

Available aggregates for collection:

4/10mm Gravel
Sharp Sand
0/20mm All In Ballast
10/20mm Gravel
Type 1 Limestone
Type 1 iBlend
6F5 Crushed Concrete
Topsoil
1A Fill Rock Chalk
Road Planings

Find out more about our 1A fill rock chalk and other aggregates. Get in touch for a quote or place an order.

Source: geoscienceworld.org