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What do we mean when we say aggregate? The word
aggregate refers to any combination of sand, gravel and stone. Sand and
gravel are a clean (without soil) mixture of fine or coarse grained
material, usually mined for steam channels beaches, or in the oceans.
Stones are usually quarried in large open pit mines.
Products from the aggregate industry even include the raw material
(quartz sand) to produce silicon in the computer chip making business.
The aggregate industry also produces the gravel, sand, and cement needed
for concrete and asphalt products. Concrete is used to construct
buildings and roads, while asphalt is primarily for roads.
Large rocks are used as "rip rap" which helps in
shoreline protection, channel protection, and slope protection.
Landscaping of homes and industries are also users of rocks for
decorative and drainage purposes. Stones are even quarried for
gravestones.
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