aggregates
Aggregates Matter
What do you know about AGGREGATES?
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Crushed stone, sand and gravel are the three kinds of rock fragments that are called aggregates.
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At the current rate of usage, every American will need 1.37 million pounds of aggregates in his or her lifetime.
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Aggregates are mined in every state in the U.S.
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Aggregates are the most commonly used mined rocks in all countries of the world.
Determining Mineral Reserves
Common things we use every day, like roads, sidewalks, schools, hospitals and homes ─ to name just a few ─ are made up of rocks and minerals. As a resource, they are called mineral reserves and include materials like sand, gravel, limestone, granite, and other aggregate and construction materials.
Groundwater Movement
Water that accumulates beneath the surface of the Earth is called groundwater. Contrary to popular belief, groundwater does not form underground "rivers," but is actually found in the small spaces and cracks between rocks and other material such as sand and gravel. The following activity involves learning how water moves through rock materials such as sand, gravel, and clay.
Reclaiming a Mine Site
Mined land is reclaimed for future use. The objective of this activity is to investigate how plants will grow on a reclaimed landscape. Over a period of days, you will learn how overburden is incorporated into the landscape after it has been removed during the mining process.Before beginning, discuss vocabulary terms: overburden, stockpile, grading, soil types, seeding, stability, seed germination, nutrients, closure planning, and reclamation.
