USGS: Aggregate production rose estimated 4.5 percent in 2015

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that about 2.25 billion metric tons of construction aggregate, valued at more than $21 billion, was produced in 2015. This represents a 4.5 percent increase over 2014 totals.

Jason Christopher Willett of USGS reports that in 2015, 1.32 billion metric tons of crushed stone was produced by 1,430 companies operating 3,700 quarries, 82 underground mines and 187 sales/distribution yards. The estimated value is more than $13.8 billion.

Leading states were, in descending order of production, Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina and Virginia, which together accounted for more than half of the total crushed stone output.

Of the total domestic crushed stone produced in 2015, about 70 percent was limestone and dolomite; 13 percent, granite; 6 percent, traprock; 5 percent, miscellaneous stone; 4 percent, sandstone and quartzite; and the remaining 2 percent was divided, in descending order of tonnage, among marble, volcanic cinder and scoria, calcareous marl, slate and shell.

It is estimated that of the crushed stone consumed in the United States in 2015, 76 percent was used as construction material, mostly for road construction and maintenance; 11 percent for cement manufacturing; 7 percent for lime manufacturing; 4 percent for other chemical, special, and miscellaneous uses and products; and 2 percent for agricultural uses.

The crushed stone production in 2015 of 1.32 billion tons was an increase of 6 percent compared with that of 2014.

Shawnna Bennett of USGS reports that in 2015, an estimated 931 million metric tons of construction sand and gravel, valued at $7.2 billion, was produced by an estimated 4,100 companies and government agencies from about 6,300 operations.

Leading producing states were, in order of decreasing tonnage, Texas, California, Minnesota, Washington, Michigan, Colorado, Arizona, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Ohio, which together accounted for about 55 percent of total output.

It is estimated that about 45 percent of construction sand and gravel was used as concrete aggregates; 25 percent for road base and coverings and road stabilization; 13 percent as asphaltic concrete aggregates and other bituminous mixtures; 12 percent as construction fill; 1 percent each for concrete products, such as blocks, bricks, pipes, plaster and gunite sands, and snow and ice control; and the remaining 2 percent for filtration, golf courses, railroad ballast, roofing granules, and other miscellaneous uses.

The construction sand and gravel production in 2015 of 931 million tons was an increase of 3 percent compared with that of 2014.