All about aggregates

Aggregates are granular materials used in construction such as sand, gravel, crushed rock or recycled and manufactured. They are produced from natural sources extracted from quarries, dredged from the sea or produced from recycled materials. They are the most mined materials in the world.

In 2018 TJ sourced and delivered over 1.4 million tonnes of aggregates. This includes all materials from driveway gravel to highways sub-bases and everything in between.

In October 2017, TJ acquired the Butser Quarry site in Petersfield and commenced quarrying in 2018. The quarry is a rock chalk pit, with the 6F5 rock chalk being extracted there. This rock chalk is widely used throughout the region on various construction projects of varying size and scale. The quarry is also where TJ’s production of recycled aggregate takes place. 6F5 and Type 1 Crushed Concrete is produced there.

In March 2017, TJ bought into the Forest Lodge site, also known as Hythe Quarry, after the site was identified in the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan (2013) as ‘the best option for continuing a local supply of soft sand and sharp sand and gravel from this part of south Hampshire’.

Quarrying commenced there in August 2018. Two products are extracted from Hythe Quarry: soft sand (building sand & as dug sand) and a well-graded golden gravel. This sand and gravel is used widely in the construction industry. The gravel is ideal for building sand, bedding and drainage fill. The sand is often used as a plastering sand and is also suitable for blinding, bedding, general fill and mortar. The sand is in high demand on local farms as well, where farmers use it as a cattle bedding sand.

With these two quarries now acquired, TJ are able to provide some of the most popular aggregates from their own sources in addition to the network of supplier quarries around the UK.

 

Aggregate types and uses

TJ offer over 20 different types of aggregate which can be delivered in 5-29 tonne loads and utilised for many different activities and projects. Here are a few of them:

0/2MM BUILDING SAND

A primary quarried fine sand, which is mostly used for bricklaying by mixing with cement to create mortar, or as a binding layer for oversite concrete.

0/4MM SHARP SAND

A primary sea dredged coarse sand. It is most commonly used for both laying and brushing into block paving.

6F5 ROCK CHALK

A primary general fill aggregate. it’s an ‘as crushed’ product most commonly used for capping, laid over terram to raise and level natural ground ready for a Type 1 sub base.

10/20MM GRAVEL

A primary multi-purpose aggregate, sourced from sea dredging in the Southern Region. It is most commonly used for driveways and paths, but also serves as a drainage material for construction projects.