The gravel being sold through the Gravel Blitz program is from the Hand Hills area, where the aggregate resource lies within a clay-based soil, unlike some other areas which produce sand/silt-based gravel.
The stockpiled gravel was to be crushed to an Alberta Transportation Highway specification which is common for most municipalities to use, but the larger amount of fine clay content found in the aggregate passed through the smaller sieves during the crushing process.
Clay-based soils provide a binder for aggerate and help keep it in place on the roadway more than sand-based or manufactured fine-based gravel does, however, when graded-up the clay-based gravel tends to produce a slimy top when wet.
When not graded frequently, the clay-based gravel will form a very hard base which is ideal for residential and farm use, including farm/bin yards, driveways, base gravel under concrete, and areas that are heavy with gumbo to make a bridge between soils.