USGS: Crushed stone flat, sand and gravel down in 2022

The U.S. Geological Survey tracks crushed stone, sand and gravel production through quarterly surveys of aggregate producers. Photo: P&Q Staff

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports that crushed stone production across the U.S. last year was flat while sand and gravel production was down slightly versus the year before.

Crushed stone

U.S. crushed stone production totaled 1.5 billion tons in 2022, USGS says, with the value of the materials estimated at more than $21 billion. According to USGS, 1,340 companies operating 3,290 quarries and 170 sales and distribution yards contributed to the total in the nation’s 50 states.

The top five-producing states of crushed stone in 2022 were Texas, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana rounded out the top 10. USGS says the top 10 crushed stone-producing states accounted for about 55 percent of the total output.

Of all the crushed stone produced domestically in 2022, USGS says about 70 percent of it was limestone and dolomite; 15 percent was granite; 6 percent was traprock; 5 percent was miscellaneous stone; 3 percent was sandstone and quartzite; and the remaining 1 percent consisted of marble, volcanic cinder and scoria, calcareous marl, slate and shell.

Additionally, USGS says an estimated 74 percent of crushed stone was used as construction aggregates – mostly for road construction and maintenance. Seventeen percent was used to manufacture cement; 5 percent went to lime manufacturing; 1 percent was for agricultural uses; and the remaining 3 percent was dedicated to other chemical, special and miscellaneous uses and products.

Sand and gravel

While U.S. crushed stone production was on par with 2022’s total, sand and gravel production across the nation dipped about 4 percent.

According to USGS, 960 million tons of construction sand and gravel were produced at a total value of $10 billion. USGS says 3,300 companies operating 6,200 pits and 200 sales and distribution yards contributed to the total in all 50 states.

The top 10-producing sand and gravel states were California, Texas, Arizona, Minnesota, Washington, Utah, Michigan, Colorado, Ohio and New York. Together, the 10 accounted for about 53 percent of the total output.

Also, USGS says an estimated 42 percent of construction sand and gravel was used as portland cement concrete aggregates; 26 percent was used for road base and coverings; 13 percent went to construction fill; 10 percent for asphaltic concrete aggregates and other bituminous mixtures; and 6 percent went toward miscellaneous uses. The remaining 3 percent was used for concrete products, filtration, golf course maintenance, plaster and gunite sands, railroad ballast, road stabilization, roofing granules, and snow and ice control.