Technical properties of aggregates for road construction from Apulia quarries

Apulia region is characterized by several aggregates quarries. A good knowledge of the technical behavior of aggregates is really important for the use. A laboratory investigation was developed in cooperation with Tecnoprove laboratory about several aggregates quarries all over Apulia region. The studied quarries produce aggregates for road construction so they have been avoided quarries of weak rock. The study concern the values of the main technical properties for the use as aggregates for road construction: unit weigth, compressive strength, wear and tear strength (Los Angeles test) and crushing strength. Tests have been made according to Italian rules for aggregates. The study has shown that technical properties of the aggregates from different Apulian zone are really different. They are strongly conditioned by the tectonic more than by the lithology. Where the rock is strongly tectonized wear and tear and crushing strength decrease in a really strong way, much more than it was possible to suppose on the base of compressive strength. Compressive strength is quite variable from 50 and 300 MPa with a high value of variation coefficient. The highest values of strength have been obtained for dolomitic limestone of Southern Apulia (Salento), value really high for limestone.