As a result of preliminary research and development work performed in support of a large proposed construction project in Nevada, an aggregate-resource evaluation was completed for 12 major valley areas within the Lund 1° by 2° mapsheet. Construction would require a total of from 95 to 124 million tons of aggregate for production of concrete and base-grade materials in over 40 valley areas where current production is 1 million tons/year.

Within the Lund mapsheet a three-phase program was initiated to assess the relatively unknown aggregate potential of the area. Each phase became more detailed than the preceding one. The phases went from regional-overview to valley-specific analyses. Results of the initial regional aggregate-resources evaluation indicated that sufficient acceptable coarse aggregate could be obtained from Quaternary alluvial-fan and lacustrine basin-fill deposits and Precambrian and Paleozoic carbonate and quartzitic rock sources. Sufficient acceptable fine-aggregate sources were not readily available in the area. During the two subsequent valley-wide studies, geomorphologic division of basin-fill deposits, based on interpretation of aerial photography and ground reconnaissance in conjunction with the esults of exploratory drilling and trenching, seismic refraction and laboratory testing, established the extent, composition, and quality of these units. These data refined and confirmed initial aggregate results. Additionally, limited trial concrete-mix test results indicate that high-strength concrete (6,500 psi compressive strength at age 28 days) can be made from selected basin fill and rock sources using standard mix designs and admixtures.

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