Aggregates for construction

Abstract

In Chapter 1, figures drawn up using the published mineral statistics for the United Kingdom show that, in terms of tonnage, sand and gravel, limestone and dolomite and igneous rock make up 70% of Britain’s mineral productivity. Within these individual categories, igneous rock and sand and gravel are almost entirely used as construction materials. Sand used as a raw material for the glass industry or for foundry purposes forms a separate category in the reported statistics. However, within the limestone and dolomite category all industrial uses are combined, and so a proportion of ‘limestone’ applies to glass or cement manufacture, and a proportion of ‘dolomite’ applies to refractories manufacture (Figure 2.1). Nevertheless, even when these alternative uses are taken into account the use of limestone and dolomite for aggregates within the construction industry is dominant.