Crushed Sand vs River Sand: Making an Informed Choice for Modern Construction

For centuries, river sand has been the undisputed champion of construction aggregates, forming the backbone of concrete and mortar worldwide. Гэхдээ, growing environmental concerns, regulatory restrictions on river sand mining, and the quest for more sustainable building practices have propelled Manufactured Sand (М-элс), or crushed sand, into the spotlight. Understanding the differences between these two key materials is crucial for engineers, шарүүаан, and developers aiming for durable, зардал багатай, and environmentally responsible projects.

The Traditional Choice: River Sand

Эхлэл & Formation: Naturally occurring, extracted from riverbeds or floodplains through dredging or mining. Formed over millennia by the weathering and erosion of rocks.
Бөөмийн хэлбэр: Typically rounded or sub-rounded due to natural abrasion during water transport.
Ангис хуудас: Often poorly graded (lacking a balanced mix of particle sizes), can contain silt, лаг, organic impurities, and salts depending on the source.
Чийг агууламж: Naturally high moisture content requires careful management during batching.
Бэлэн байдал & Зардал: Increasingly scarce due to depletion of deposits and strict environmental regulations banning indiscriminate mining in many regions. Scarcity drives up cost significantly.
Байгаль орчинд үзүүлэх нөлөөлөл: High negative impact: Disrupts river ecosystems, causes bank erosion, lowers water tables (affecting agriculture), destroys habitats (aquatic life), increases flood risk downstream due to altered riverbeds.

The Modern Alternative: Crushed Sand (М-элс)

Эхлэл & Formation: Artificially produced by crushing hard rocks (боржин чулуу, сагссах) using vertical shaft impactors (Бүгд) or cone crushers in controlled quarry environments.
Бөөмийн хэлбэр: Angular or cubical shape due to mechanical crushing process.
Ангис хуудас: Precisely controlled gradation achievable through advanced crushing and screening processes to meet specific standards (жишээ нь e., IS 383 Zone-II). Minimal impurities (clay/silt) if washed properly.
Чийг агууламж: Low moisture content as it's manufactured dry; requires less water adjustment in concrete mixes.
Бэлэн байдал & Зардал: Reliable supply chain from rock quarries; price generally more stable than river sand and often lower in regions with restricted river mining. Initial setup cost exists but offers long-term predictability.
Байгаль орчинд үзүүлэх нөлөөлөл: Significantly lower impact when sourced responsibly: Utilizes existing