**2.2 Production of fine aggregate type, quality, production, and quarrying trend and method**

For central and southeastern part of the country, the most common sources of sands are from Meki, Langano, Sodere, Koka, Metehara, and Minjar [10]. Generally, the existing quarry nationwide are not well organized; for example, from all sites in the capital, Denamo [9] reported, only 10 of the existing aggregate producing firms are well organized in manpower, machinery, and finance. Gravel and stone quarry operations result in extensive manipulation of the landscape and of the ecosystems of indigenous to their sites [11] (**Figure 1**).

**71**

**trend and method**

**Figure 2.**

**Table 1.**

*Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Aggregate Production in Ethiopia*

Quarrying activity often has long-term social and environmental impacts. Social challenges related to the increase in quarrying activities in general include threats to health and safety, farming obstacle, blockage on free movement of animals, displacement of communities, reduction in agricultural yield, damage of cultural sites, and the formation of mining villages [12]. Production activities in any industry may harm the environment through their damaging effects on air, water, soil, and biodiversity [13]. Due to the production process and luck of standardization, there is a big problem in getting good sand for production of concrete due to different reasons (**Figure 2**).

**Properties Result Properties Result**

Ultrasonic pulse velocity (m/s) 4000–7000 Compressive strength (MPa) 130–350

) 2.6–3.1

Dynamic elasticity modulus (GPa) 64–129 Bulk density (g/cm3

**2.3 Production of coarse aggregate type, quality, production, and quarrying** 

required and usually is accomplished with hydraulic hammers [14].

used as construction material with listed properties in **Table 1** [15].

**3. Environmental impact of aggregate production**

Production of coarse aggregates includes blasting of rock, transporting of the crushed rock by conveyor to the crushing plant, and adjusting the crusher so as to give a range of different sizes by passing the crushed rock through a set of sieves [7]. At the selected quarry sites, holes are drilled into the rock and are partially filled with explosives, and controlled sequential blasting commonly breaks the rock into pieces suitable for crushing. If the rubble is too large, secondary breaking may be

A detailed study was conducted by Tesfaye A. and Giulio B. on Termaber basalt, a widely used basalt in the central highland of Ethiopia and that comprise the major source of local crushed rock aggregates and building stone. Based on field investigation and laboratory tests, it was concluded that the basalt was highly suitable to be

Production activities in any industry may harm the environment through their damaging effects on air, water, soil, and biodiversity [6]. Sustainable supply of

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90845*

*Production of fine aggregate in Ethiopia [6].*

Open porosity (%) 0.33%–3.08

*Physical and mechanical properties of Termaber basalt [15].*

*Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Aggregate Production in Ethiopia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90845*

#### **Figure 2.**

*Sandy Materials in Civil Engineering - Usage and Management*

**industry**

has increased from 152 to 257.

of indigenous to their sites [11] (**Figure 1**).

**and method**

**2. Sourcing and aggregate production for Ethiopian construction** 

**2.1 Sources of aggregate in Ethiopian past, present, and future trends**

The natural aggregates are formed as a result of the processes of weathering and abrasion or through crushing a large parent mass [7]. Engineers are first of all concerned with technical requirements. However, in the future, probably the environmentalists will take over much of the standardization work. Quarrying and transport of materials have environmental impacts on the local neighborhood and society, for instance, with regard to noise, dust, pollution, and effects on biodiversity [8]. The city of Addis Ababa is growing from time to time very rapidly. Its area which is 54,000 Ha is being covered by buildings, houses, roads, bridges, etc. [9]. To meet the overgrowing demand, the number and production capacity of quarry sites, coarse aggregate, and sand deposits are aggressively increasing. Admasu [7] (2015) reported that based on the data from Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Authority in 2005 to 2015, the number of aggregate production plants in the capital

**2.2 Production of fine aggregate type, quality, production, and quarrying trend** 

For central and southeastern part of the country, the most common sources of sands are from Meki, Langano, Sodere, Koka, Metehara, and Minjar [10]. Generally, the existing quarry nationwide are not well organized; for example, from all sites in the capital, Denamo [9] reported, only 10 of the existing aggregate producing firms are well organized in manpower, machinery, and finance. Gravel and stone quarry operations result in extensive manipulation of the landscape and of the ecosystems

*Sources of sands for central and southeastern part of the country [source: Google Maps 2019].*

**70**

**Figure 1.**

*Production of fine aggregate in Ethiopia [6].*


#### **Table 1.**

*Physical and mechanical properties of Termaber basalt [15].*

Quarrying activity often has long-term social and environmental impacts. Social challenges related to the increase in quarrying activities in general include threats to health and safety, farming obstacle, blockage on free movement of animals, displacement of communities, reduction in agricultural yield, damage of cultural sites, and the formation of mining villages [12]. Production activities in any industry may harm the environment through their damaging effects on air, water, soil, and biodiversity [13]. Due to the production process and luck of standardization, there is a big problem in getting good sand for production of concrete due to different reasons (**Figure 2**).

## **2.3 Production of coarse aggregate type, quality, production, and quarrying trend and method**

Production of coarse aggregates includes blasting of rock, transporting of the crushed rock by conveyor to the crushing plant, and adjusting the crusher so as to give a range of different sizes by passing the crushed rock through a set of sieves [7]. At the selected quarry sites, holes are drilled into the rock and are partially filled with explosives, and controlled sequential blasting commonly breaks the rock into pieces suitable for crushing. If the rubble is too large, secondary breaking may be required and usually is accomplished with hydraulic hammers [14].

A detailed study was conducted by Tesfaye A. and Giulio B. on Termaber basalt, a widely used basalt in the central highland of Ethiopia and that comprise the major source of local crushed rock aggregates and building stone. Based on field investigation and laboratory tests, it was concluded that the basalt was highly suitable to be used as construction material with listed properties in **Table 1** [15].
