Los recursos minerales y los materiales de construcción.
ISSN: 1132-9157
Year of publication: 2008
Volume: 16
Issue: 3
Pages: 248-255
Type: Article
More publications in: Enseñanza de las ciencias de la tierra: Revista de la Asociación Española para la Enseñanza de las Ciencias de la Tierra
Abstract
Construction material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, gravel and rocks have been used as raw materials to make construction materials for buildings and other constructions (e.g. bridges). In this sense, mud, stone, metal, and gravel and sand are the most basic mineral resources used to manufacture construction materials. Some mineral resources (e.g. aggregates) are minimally processed, whereas other mineral resources (e.g. limestone for cement) need complex processes to obtain the final product for construction. Metals are also another mineral resources which need complex processes to obtain the construction material, for example steel (a metal alloy whose major component is iron), used as structural framework for larger buildings or an external surface covering.