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Michigan
Aggregates |
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Serving
Michigan's Non-Metallic Extractions Industry
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PDF of Fact Sheet 112 million tons of mineral aggregates were sold from Michigan sources in 2007. An additional 2.0 million tons of blast furnace and steel furnace slag aggregate was used for construction in the state. Aggregate is produced from about 325 surface mines located throughout the State, with some aggregate mining in every county. A large number of aggregate mines are family owned and operated. 80% of aggregate plants operate with 20 or less employees. The aggregate industry directly employs over 8000 people in the State. Wages for employees of construction material producers are 35% higher than the average wage for all industries. The average production span for a sand and gravel deposit is 25 years, whereas a good stone quarry is productive for over 50 years. Over the next 20 years, the trend will be toward use of more crushed stone products as gravel deposits are depleted in some areas. A number of aggregate deposits are not available for extraction as they are covered by urban sprawl or mining is prohibited by zoning. Many of our suburban housing developments are built on top of gravel deposits. An average 11 tons of aggregate is required annually for each Michigan resident. As an example, a new subdivision requires about 400 tons of aggregate per home. Aggregate makes up approximately 95% of every ton of asphaltic concrete placed on Michigan roads, and 80% of each cubic yard of Portland cement concrete used. Michigan produced limestone and silica sand are important ingredients in the manufacturing of glass, fiberglass and steel. Over 90% of all aggregate produced in the United States is moved by truck. Thousands of trucks are engaged in hauling aggregate. Most aggregate is used within 40 miles of where it is produced. Better than half of all aggregate used is paid for by tax dollars. Large users are the State, Counties, Townships and Municipalities in their road and infrastructure programs. Federal dollars are involved in airports, dams, locks, erosion control and waste treatment facilities. Aggregate is widely used as a filter medium in water and sewage treatment plants. More recently, limestone and lime are being used in flue gas desulfurization processes. A number of lakes resulting from aggregate excavation have been reclaimed to make excellent water recreation facilities. Lakes formed by aggregate extraction in Oakland County are now helping to recharge the groundwater acquifers that local industry and municipalities depend on as a source of water. The biggest challenges facing the aggregate industry in the coming years are in the environmental compliance area, and in attaining favorable zoning for the extraction of minerals. There is also a need to have planning groups designate critical resource areas to be set aside to meet aggregate demands for future generations.
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