Efficient Use of Non-Renewable Mineral Resources of Silicate Origin in the Wearing Layer of Roadway Construction – A Case Study of the Quarry "Mrčići"

Abstract

The technological process of producing silicate aggregates begins with the unloading of mined material, where the pieces of stone are crushed primarily, secondarily and tertiaryly, and then separated. Production lines at the crushing and separation plant can be adjusted to some extent to market demand. Recently, there has been a high demand for skeletal mastic asphalt SMA 11, which has a distinctly skeletal structure compared to the previously demanded asphalt concretes. This demand somewhat disrupts manufacturers' production lines. The need for the 8/11 mm fraction has increased compared to the others. As a result, stockpiles of other fractions are accumulating at the separation plants, with an emphasis on the 4/8 mm fraction. This imbalance makes it challenging to manage non-renewable mineral resources effectively, leading to a negative environmental impact. The paper presents the problems producers face and provides possible solutions for utilising such deposited material. Additionally, the need for intervention by state institutions was emphasised when it comes to solutions regarding the use of other asphalt mixtures, which are already widely used worldwide.