Are you aware that crushed stone and gravel are different? Despite coming from the same source, they have some differences. These two stones are made in distinct ways and are utilized in various building and landscaping applications.
Due to the different manufacturing processes, sizes, and applications of these two aggregates, crushed stone and gravel providers classify them separately. While choosing a type of gravel for your construction project, consider these factors while chatting with your local gravel provider.
What is Gravel Stone?
Gravel comprises naturally appearing loose pieces of stone with rounded edges. It can be found naturally occurring, possibly in a river or gravel mine. Although crushed stone and gravel are both forms of rock, they don’t naturally occur in the same manner.
Gravel is described in geology as “a natural material that is composed of materials transported by water and typically has a rounded shape as a result of the water transport.”
Gravel can be multicolored or homogeneous in color, depending on the type of bedrock from which it was formed. Its function and name are frequently determined by its size; examples include pea gravel, river gravel, washed gravel, and river rock of varying sizes. Gravel may also be broken down into smaller pieces for various uses; this type of gravel is called crushed gravel because part of its edges is still smooth.
What is a Crushed Stone?
“Crushed stone” is as easy as it seems when defined in the simplest terms: a small-pieced stone that has been crushed. On the other hand, crushed stone is made in a factory. A stone crusher is used to reduce large rocks (typically limestone) into smaller bits. It often comes from artificially crushed stone.
When making construction materials, crushed stone is utilized as aggregate. The most frequent types of rock used to make crushed stone are limestone, dolomite, granite, and traprock. Construction aggregates also include smaller quantities of marble, quartzite, slate, sandstone, and volcanic cinder.
It could be igneous (granite, trap rock, basalt, or pumice) or sedimentary (limestone, dolomite, shale, and sandstone). It might also be metamorphic (slate, gneiss, marble, and metaquartzite). Depending on the kind of bedrock from which it is extracted, its color is frequently more consistent.
THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH STONE
Because the crushed stone has a rounder finish, using it for places like driveways would not be as stable as utilizing gravel. They could produce an unsteady surface.
However, gravel is angular and will lock together on a driveway. Gravel is undoubtedly better if your project sees a lot of foot or vehicle activity.
Crushed stone is a superior option for projects that call for more aesthetics. In general, gravel is less costly than stone.
Differences Between Crushed Stone and Gravel
The word “crushed stone” is not frequently used by the majority, who instead refer to all gravel and beaten stone as “gravel.” However, there are important distinctions between battered stone and gravel, including
Sources
Gravel is broken rock obtained from gravel pits, rivers, and streams that include deposits of weathered rock. Even though gravel is a natural byproduct of weathering and abrasion, providers of gravel can mine it in quarries using the same crushing machinery as crushed stone.
Shapes
Overwhelmed stone often has additional angular features because of the crushing technique. Due to the natural weathering process, gravel tends to have a rounder shape and is typically much smaller than crushed stone. However, the crushed gravel could be shaped more angularly.
Size
Jaw crusher machine manufacturer crushes them in various sizes. From beautiful stone soil (screenings) to larger, heavier stones, beaten stone stages range in size. Many different sizes of gravel stones may be larger than 2 mm in diameter, ranging from about 14 inches to 2 inches or more.
What are the applications of both stones?
They can be utilized for various purposes, but there are still variances in what each aggregate may be used for. Here are some of the applications.
Applications of gravel
- First, gravel is far more comfortable to walk on than jumbled, overgrown stone since it frequently has a smooth, rounded edge from water erosion.
- Second, gravel frequently has aesthetic appeal due to its color and texture. Gravel is typically more colorful and vivid, and clean gravel is more pleasant to examine than jagged, battered stone.
- Mulch is preferred in flower beds, although gravel, particularly river rock or comparable sorts, is also widely used.
- When mulch or cover plants are not a viable choice, gravel, particularly river rock or similar varieties, is often popular in flower beds.
- When laying gravel in a flowerbed, be sure to first lay down a high-quality landscaping fabric, secure it with stakes, and then spread a layer of gravel on top of the fabric, often 2 to 3 inches deep.
- If the fabric isn’t laid down first, grass and weeds can rapidly sprout up amid the pebbles, requiring a lot of upkeep and making the flower bed weedy.
Applications of crushed stone:
- Crushed stone is used in various applications, but those that need concrete, sturdy bases, or drainage systems are the most prevalent.
- For ready-mixed concrete, crushed stone is frequently used as the aggregate. To manufacture the batches of concrete, concrete companies have a lot of different crushed stone components on hand.
- Due to its excellent compatibility, crushed stone with added stone dust is frequently used to create building foundations of all kinds, including driveways.
- Crushed stone is generally found at the bottom of structures needing a strong foundation, including roads, driveways, building foundations, patio bases, retaining wall bases, and other constructions.
- After being cleansed and sanitized, crushed stone is usually used for drainage.
Final thought
In building and decorating, crushed stone and gravel will always be important. The stone will always provide several advantages regarding benefit, cost, and attraction. You may plan your next project with the assistance of your gravel and stone crusher machine Manufacturer, who can also ensure you have everything you need for a good outcome.
