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Tour of Radley
Thrupp
Lane sand and gravel workings and the RWE Npower PFA
Disposal Site
The
land to the south of the village has been, for many
years, a source of alluvial sand and gravel for the
construction industry. The lakes that form as a result
of the workings are currently being in-filled using
surplus pulverised fuel
ash (PFA) from Didcot Power Station. The PFA is
mixed with water to form a liquid slurry, which is transported
through underground pipes to the lakes where it is deposited.
In due course the PFA settles out while the water is
drained off. The PFA also contains small hollow silica/alumina
spheres, known as cenospheres, that float to the surface
and are harvested as a valuable raw material used in
the production of special cements, flame retardants,
etc.
[Map]
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