Aggregates are widely used in many applications, including house construction, as a base layer for asphalt roads, and in concrete and asphalt production technologies. Aggregates also serve as excellent decoration for yards and gardens. Fine gravel provides a perfect substrate for many rock plants and offers very effective protection against weed growth among vegetation. Aggregates are most commonly divided into natural and artificially produced types; other classification criteria include their size and origin.
Construction aggregates are used in the building industry and are characterised by very high compressive strength as well as resistance to abrasion and other mechanical damage. Depending on their application, aggregates must comply with numerous standards and requirements, ensuring the long service life of structures built on aggregate bases and guaranteeing their safe use.
Aggregates used for road construction must meet a number of standards and be characterised by specific strength and friction coefficients. In the road-building industry, granites, basalts, and porphyries are used most often — these aggregates demonstrate the highest resistance to external factors, including weather conditions.
In concrete production, similarly to asphalt manufacturing, the main selection criterion is mechanical strength. Granite and basalt are therefore used to produce concrete with very high overload resistance, while limestone and dolomite are used for concretes that still offer high compressive strength, although their overall resistance may be slightly lower. Another type of concrete made with very high‑strength aggregates includes concrete shields produced from baryte, limonite, goethite, and haematite.
Selecting the proper aggregate is crucial in the construction industry because rocks differ in mechanical strength and elasticity—properties that greatly influence the long-term usability and functionality of structures made with these materials. In horticulture, both professional and home garden applications usually focus on appearance and budget, as aggregate layers in such contexts serve primarily decorative rather than functional purposes. Therefore, hardness, elasticity, or strength are not key considerations, and the colour and grain size are the main factors taken into account.
A great example of aggregate use in yards is the creation of surface layers on driveways and garden paths, which significantly improve drainage and irrigation. Rainwater does not accumulate on the aggregate surface, preventing mud formation. Even after heavy rainfall, water penetrates the aggregate layer and then soaks into the soil.