Quarry Products

The EU's Mining Waste Directive was supposed to bring legislative parity to extractive industries across Europe from 1 May last year. UK minerals lawyer Robert Camp reviews progress. The EU's Mining Waste Directive, or Directive 2006/21/EC to give it its proper name, was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on 15 March 2006. Its aim is to regulate the management of waste from mining and extractive industries in order to prevent harm to the environment and human health and the directi

Capacity at France-based Durance Granulats quarry in Gardanne has been boosted by 25% with investment in a new conveyor system at the site in south eastern France.

Three BHS mixing plants are producing concrete for the new Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport. Mobile high-capacity concrete mixing plants from BHS-Sonthofen are producing the concrete for the Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport, which is currently under construction in Germany.

Shaping the EU strategy for security of supply of raw materials in Europe is critical, the UEPG reports on progress
Just over a year ago, European Aggregates Association (UEPG) president Denis Mertens and Council of European Producers of Materials for Construction president Jim O'Brien met with EU vice president Günter Verheugen. The aim of the meeting was to present the construction minerals case for an EC initiative to ensure security of minerals supply and marked a milestone in the long term UEPG campai

Russia-based Cesla is reported to be planning to invest up to €90million in expanding its cement operations in Leningrad.

The testing of materials such as concrete and asphalt is essential for sound structures: in many regions it is a legal requirement. Patrick Smith reports. Malta National Laboratory's decision to ask the internationally respected TRL to help it establish a construction materials testing facility shows the importance attached to such facilities. This agreement will allow MNL to become an independent test house on the Mediterranean island, able to undertake the testing of road materials such as aggregates, con

France-based cement producer Ciments Calcia has announced that it is to use biodegradble bags for all of its products by the end of the year.

Overburden can be useful when it comes to landscaping areas around the quarry but what can be done when supply outweighs that demand. Very few quarries are fortunate enough to have no overburden to strip to access aggregate reserve and most have to factor in the cost of stripping and storing material. But the cost of this process can be more than financial - some quarries have an excess of 'waste' material stockpiled that is blocking access to prime aggregates. Many quarries utilise overburden for environme