Brick clays are won from the earth by open cast mining or quarrying. Often they lie over or under seams of coal. The key environmental issues are disruption of the ecosystem, re-instatement of the land after mining and the danger of watercourse pollution caused by water runoff from the mine.

Caradale is careful to source its clays from mines where these effects are carefully controlled and where the land will be re-instated in its natural form. The company endeavours to ensure that quarries exceed the British Ceramic Confederation’s code of practice for extraction and restoration.

Mining is done in strips or areas. Spiders, insects and other invertebrates along with the food chain they support can re-colonise each area as it is re-instated. Unwanted material from the first strip is stored carefully in “upside down” bunds and is usually covered with its own top soil to minimise the visual impact and provide sanctuary for wildlife.  

When the second strip is excavated the top soil is set aside and the rock
used to fill the void left by the first strip. Then the top soil with its natural store of seeds, plant material and invertebrates is spread over the area.  The land
will regenerate its natural structure very quickly. As the mine is worked out
the material from the first strip fills the last hole and the top soil which improved the appearance of the bund is used to finally recreate the
landscape as it was before the mine began.  

At this mine in southern Scotland the rough grazing will be regenerated for
hill sheep pasture. Additional shelter for the sheep will be provided by small pockets of supplementary forestry. 

Water from mine workings can be heavy with silts and minerals which can
have a detrimental effect on natural watercourses. Part of the control plan
in this mine involves huge settling pools and chemical treatments.
Dirty, mineral laden water goes in but clean pure water comes out.

There is also a risk of spillage of oils from the engines and hydraulics of the working machinery. While most would be cleaned at the point of spillage, if any did contaminate the surface water, strategically placed absorbent booms ensure that it doesn’t find its way into streams and rivers.