sedimentary
Gravel and Pavement Aggregates
Unconsolidated rock fragments / detrital sediments
Hardness varies by mineral composition (typically Mohs 6-7 for quartz-rich pebbles), colors range from grey, brown, and tan to white, luster is dull to vitreous, varied rounded to sub-angular shapes, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness varies by mineral composition (typically Mohs 6-7 for quartz-rich pebbles), colors range from grey, brown, and tan to white, luster is dull to vitreous, varied rounded to sub-angular shapes, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the mechanical weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition of pre-existing rocks by rivers, streams, and glacial activity, often subsequently graded and distributed for human landscaping or construction.
Uses & applications
Widely used in civil engineering, road construction, railway ballast, concrete production, and landscaping drainage.
Geological facts
Gravel is classified by particle size ranging from granules (2mm) up to boulders (>256mm) according to the Udden-Wentworth scale. It represents one of the most heavily consumed natural mineral resources in the world.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified on the ground as loose, weathered aggregates mixed with soil and vegetation. Collectors generally do not sample ordinary construction gravel unless specific rare lithologies are present.
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