|
 |
NSC Home Page > EUAS Contents > Quarrying: basic fact file
INDUSTRY
Quarrying: basic fact file
Sites (see note (a) below)
There is an aggregates site within 15 miles of almost every school (see note(b) below)
412 active rock quarries
501 active sand/gravel quarries
60 marine wharves (50 =s/g; 15 = rock)
55 rail receiving depots
1,000 ready mixed concrete plants
270 asphalt plants
320 aggregates recycling depots
probably 10,000 inactive quarries - many disappeared without any trace.Note:
(a) 2001-3 - various sources
(b) For those areas more remote from quarries see Industry profileConsumpton
On average, we each use 3.6 tonnes of aggregates a year, or a lorry load for every family!Million tonnes (see note (c) below)
103 Crushed rock, of which,74 Limestone
22 Igneous rock
7 Sandstone73 Sand and gravel (land)
12 Sand and gravel (marine)
Of the above, 181 = aggregates; 7 = industrial uses and building stone41 recycled/secondary aggregates
40 ready mixed concrete
22 asphaltused for:
20% housing
20% road building/maintenance
25% public utilities/ports/railways
25% offices/shops/leisure
10% factories/warehouses
100 or more everyday usesNote:
(c) 2002Jobs
Quarrying and related jobs are second only to farming in many rural areas.
35,000 direct and indirect:
of which, direct employment:15,259 including:
6918 sand & gravel
533 industrial sand
1066 sandstone
1618 igneous rock
4421 limestone
703 dolomiteUp to 100 different types of jobs.
Land use
Surprisingly little land is being used for quarrying much of it temporarily
0.35% quarrying (of total land area)
77% farming/grass moors, etc.
10% forestry
12% urban
1.2% roadsConservation/Environment
700 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) were former quarries.
100 English SSSIs actively created by quarrying; more gained than lost
Probably creating more nature reserves than any other industry.
Main source of support for archaeological investigations.
Partnership ventures with wildlife trusts in many counties.
Memorandum of Understanding with English Nature.
Major source of materials for building conservation.
Commitment of most companies to ISO 14001.
Major player in forestry (one company alone has planted 1.5 million trees)Industry Structure
More than 100 operating companies
Six companies account for 85% of production:Tarmac Ltd - UK's aggregates producer - 100 years old in 2003, 10,000 employees in 11 countries.
Hanson plc - World's largest aggregates producer with 28,000 employees; second largest in UK , with 7,500 employees at over 400 sites; based in UK.
Lafarge plc - one of the World's largest producers of aggregates and cement; 2,000 employees in UK at 200 UK sites; 80,000 employees in 75 countries
RMC Ltd 4th largest aggregates in the World; one of World's largest concrete producers; major cement producer - 30,000 employees Worldwide.
Aggregate Industries plc - one of the leading aggregates producers in UK and US; employs over 9,000 people. Based in UK.
Foster Yeoman Ltd - family company; operates two of Europe's largest quarries employees 700 people.
Trade Associations
The two main aggregates trade bodies are:Quarry Products Association (over 100 member companies including all the largest and accounting for c90% of output)
British Aggregates Association (representing many smaller producers especially in Scotland and N Ireland)Other trade organisations related to the quarry product industry or specific sectors include:
Silica and Moulding Sands Association
British Cement Association
British Lime Association
British Slate Association
Stone Federation Great Britain
Confederation of British Industry
British Marine Aggregate Producers AssociationThere are a number of regional federations e.g. relating to Devon, Mendip, the Midlands, Wales, Yorkshire, Scotland and N. Ireland.
Note:
(a) 2001-3 - various sources
(b) For those areas more remote from quarries see Industry profile
(c) 2002