The production of crushed rock aggregate in Malta

Abstract

An archeological excavation at the Uruk digs in Iraq in 1968 unearthed a templelike structure. The building, tentatively dated from 400 B.C., was partially constructed of concrete - its earliest known application. Today reinforced concrete may be considered the most important building material. One of the main components of reinforced concrete is the aggregate, whether natural or artificial. Indeed, almost three quarters of the volume of concrete is occupied by aggregate. It is not surprising, therefore, that this component is of considerable importance to the manufacture of concrete members. At one time aggregate used to be viewed as in inert material dispersed throughout the cement paste largely for economic reasons.