Every time you see a work crew on a residential, commercial or public project, it's virtually guaranteed that aggregates are being put to use. In Missouri, aggregates are most often found in the form of crushed limestone. Limestone is mined in 92 of Missouri's 114 counties, and the industry employs more than 2,500 people.
The following facts about aggregates point out the importance of this resource and why it is beneficial to have a quarry or pit nearby. Construction of a typical home requires 300 to 400 tons of aggregates. Up to 80% of the concrete in roads and other structures is comprised of aggregates; up to 95% of asphalt roads and parking lots is aggregates. One mile of a two-lane concrete highway requires 7,200 tons of aggregates; one mile of a two-lane asphalt highway requires 10,300 tons of aggregates.
About one-half of all aggregates production is used for publicly-funded projects, such as highways, bridges, water/sewer systems, government buildings, airports, etc.
Most aggregates are used within 40 miles of where they are extracted and are typically hauled by dump truck. After a truck loaded with aggregate travels about 20 miles, freight charges usually begin to exceed the cost of the materials it carries.
Millions of tons of aggregates are produced in Missouri each year -- roughly 10 tons for each resident. Aggregates are essential to maintaining our quality of life because they are a major part of the roadways and bridges we utilize to go to work, school, and entertainment. They are the foundations and building blocks for our homes, our churches, our learning institutions, and our medical facilities.