Geoenvironment


Borehole logging for mineral resources
The Geological Survey Department monitors the quarrying industry and acts accordingly under the guidance of the Committee for Sustainable Development of the Mineral Resources, in order to guarantee the continuous availability of reserves of suitable rocks for the production of crushed aggregates and consequently sustain a continuous production of aggregates for the needs of the building and road construction industry.

To cover the needs of aggregates for the building and road construction industry, nine quarries of diabase and eleven quarries of reef limestone are currently in operation. Apart from these, three quarries of calcarenite are also operating for the production of fine sand. There are coarse and fine aggregates. The coarse aggregates result from the crushing of hard rock, whose grains may be angular, rounded, elongated, flaky or irregular in shape. The fine sand usually results from the crushing of hard rocks or from the milling of calcarenite.
In addition to the above, in the aggregates, they are included the natural armourstones that are quarried and used in marine construction works.


Market Surveillance at aggregate splitter

Market Surveillance for the Aggregates

Market Surveillance at Quarry
The Department is also responsible for the market surveillance to ensure the required quality of aggregates. The quality of both coarse and fine aggregates is determined by particular parameters (grading, percentage of flakiness, natural and mechanic characteristics) and is specified in the following standards: CYS EN12620, aggregates for concrete; CYS EN13043, aggregates for bituminous mixtures and surface treatments for roads, airfields and other trafficked areas; and CYS EN13139, aggregates for mortar. The quality of materials used as foundation, sub-base or general filling in civil engineering work and road construction, are specified by the standard CYS EN13242, aggregates for unbound and hydraulically bound materials for use in civil engineering work and road construction. The specifications for armourstones are given in the standard CYS EN13383-1.



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