Here's why Anglo American is flying a plane over the Whitby area

Anglo American, the owner of the Woodsmith Mine near Sneaton, has written to residents around the Whitby area to tell them of an airborne geophysical survey starting the week of April 5.
By Duncan Atkins
Published 24th Mar 2021, 15:08 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2021, 15:34 BST
The Woodsmith Mine site, near SneatonThe Woodsmith Mine site, near Sneaton
The Woodsmith Mine site, near Sneaton

The survey will take around two weeks and involve a plane flying in straight lines at an average height of 100 metres to collect geophysical information on the properties of the rocks below ground.

This information will then be used by the mining company to strengthen its understanding of the area’s geology.

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Gareth Edmunds, External Affairs Director at Anglo American, said: “It is important to us to keep the community updated about our activities.

“The plane has to fly fairly close to the ground for the survey to work so we want people to be aware that it is happening and what it is doing.“

The survey involves measuring minor variations in the Earth’s gravitational and magnetic fields.

Sensitive measuring equipment located in the aircraft will be used to gather this data. It is a totally passive technique and does not involve sending out any signals or sound waves.

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The company has written to 14,000 households in the survey area to inform them.

“We’ve already undertaken significant exploratory drilling and seismic surveying in the area since 2012,” added Gareth.

“This aerial survey will build on that and help us to create a 3D map of the geology beneath the surface.

"The technology involved is fascinating and the UK company we are using is one of the only two contractors in the world that can do this type of survey.”

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Anglo American’s Woodsmith Project is being built off the B1416 near Sneaton.

Anyone wishing to find out more information about the survey should click here or call Anglo American’s community helpline on 0845 5438964.

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Related topics:Whitby