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Chapter 1: Industry Overview
November 1, 2007 By: Pit and Quarry Staff Pit & QuarryCrushed stone, sand and gravel are the foundations of our nation. These basic resources are essential for building roads, houses, schools and hospitals. Providing more than 117,000 jobs nationwide at approximately 10,000 operations, the U.S. aggregate industry supplies construction materials critical in building and maintaining airports, railroads and the world's safest and most efficient highway system.
Since the nation was first settled, the production of construction aggregate has enhanced our quality of life. Construction aggregate, for instance, enables the farmer to grow crops and bring his goods to market on safe and efficient highways and the provides the resources that enable a community to have construction materials for new libraries.
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Crushed stone
There are more than 3,500 quarry operations located in the United States. Individual crushed-stone quarries range in size from small operations reporting production of less than 50,000 tpy annually to those with production of more than 10 million tons.
From the smallest family owned quarry to large multi-national operations, aggregate production plays a vital role in the nation's economy and in the quality of life for its residents. Imagine the difference in your quality of life without highways, paint, plastics, medicines, glass, driveways, concrete sidewalks, bridges, wallboard, vinyl, brick, concrete block, roofing tile, asphalt shingles or minerals for agriculture — all made possible with crushed stone.
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Aggregate has an amazing variety of uses. More than 95 percent of asphalt pavement and more than 80 percent of a concrete sidewalk is aggregate. Paint, paper, plastics, vinyl and glass — all require aggregate products as parts of their structures. Crushed stone, ground into a powder, is used as an important mineral supplement in our agriculture industry. Large material, called rip-rap, is used to prevent erosion along rivers and shorelines.
Providing essential products is only part of today's aggregate producers' total commitment to their communities. More than 117,000 employees and their families rely on the country's construction materials industries for their livelihoods. Thousands more rely on this resource to make possible other related industries.
 Basic concepts and terminology |
Actively involved in their communities, aggregate producers belong to neighborhood councils and participate in business/ education partnerships. With a long tradition in community commitment and responsible land management, aggregate producers embrace the philosophy behind laws that regulate the industry. Federal, state and local agencies work with aggregate producers to ensure safety and environmental quality. Often, crushed-stone producers must obtain dozens of permits to operate in accordance with the many state and federal regulations.
Reclamation for an aggregate property's next use is an integral part of the ongoing management of an aggregate operation. In most instances, producers are required to return the land to a like or better condition than when the operation started. Implementing the reclamation plan commonly begins at start-up, with special care given to such programs as wildlife-habitat development and land contouring.
 Physical and chemical requirements of natural aggregate |
The results of successful reclamation can be seen in wildlife refuges, community parks and lakes, golf courses, housing subdivisions and shopping malls.
As time goes on and quarry properties begin to merge with surrounding neighborhoods, quarry operators take an increasingly active role as an integral member of the community. By not only paying their share of local taxes, but also contributing their share in building the community's recreational areas, all local residents benefit from these operations.
Aggregate producers depend on their reputations as environmental stewards, community leaders and as producers of quality construction aggregate for continued successful operation.
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