GTA INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH REQUIREMENTS REQUIRE 

HIGH QUALITY CRUSHED STONE FROM QUARRIES
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Not all Crushed Stone is Created Equally
ll C h d S i C dE ll
Increased Reliance on Crushed Stone This is the Bobcaygeon, Gull River and Shortage of Crushed Stone in the GTA
Lindsay Formations.
Formations Certain layers of
these formations are considered alkali‐
Revisions to Ontario Provincial Standards reactive. This causes the concrete to • GTA has less than 108 million tonnes of
expand and create tiny cracks allowing
for Roads and Public Works (OPS) water to infiltrate and the freeze/thaw
licensed crushed stone (2016 SAROS).
requires
i more highhi h quality
lit crushed
h d stone
t cycle causes damage/deterioration.

from quarries. • In 1996 there was 5 quarries from 5

different companies with abundant
supply of crushed stone.
stone
Since 1985 Ontario reliance on crushed
• In 2018, there are now only 3 quarries
stone has increased from 35% of
from 2 different companies with limited
Ontario’s total aggregate consumption to supply of crushed stone.
50%.
• For example
p in 2001,, 15 million tonnes
of crushed stone was produced and in
Crushed Stone as a % of Ontario’s  This is the amabel formation. The 2017 only 5 million tonnes was
Total Aggregate Consumption amabel formation produces produced locally,
p y despite
p demand in the
significantly stronger concrete and has
superior freeze/thaw resistance than GTA increasing.
other crushed stones. This leads to
greater longevity of concrete structures
and pavements. • As a result, more lower quality crushed
stone is being imported further from
This is the Bertie, Oriskany, Bois, market which has economic, social and
Blanc, Onondaga and Dundee environmental impacts.
Source: 2016 SAROS
Source: 2016 SAROS formations These formations are
formations.
shaley or contain high chert content
which basically makes most of the
resource unsuitable for high
specification products such as
concrete or asphalt.

Using Higher Quality Aggregates Triples the Life Span of Infrastructure
Lifespan of a Bridge Using the Amabel Formation – Lasts 3 x  Longer

Lifespan of a Bridge using Lower Quality Aggregates

• 3x the amount of aggregate consumed  • 3x the impact of traffic congestions caused by 
construction/demolition
• 3x the construction costs 
• Lower quality crushed stone is located further from market which 
• 3x the demolition costs  increases the greenhouse gas emissions and consumes more fuel   
August 2018