Ghiaia

Ghiaia is the Italian term for gravel, a loose, granular material composed of rock fragments and mineral grains. In geological and civil engineering contexts, it refers to naturally occurring accumulations of coarse particles as well as to processed gravel used as aggregate in construction.

Gravel consists of rounded to subangular particles derived from various rock types, such as quartz, limestone, and granite. It is commonly classified by size, with categories ranging from fine gravel to coarse gravel. Natural gravels tend to be rounded due to transport in rivers or marine settings, while crushed gravels are more angular and provide greater interlock when used as a base or in concrete.

Occurrence and production: Natural ghiaia forms in riverbeds, alluvial fans, beaches, and glacial outwash deposits. Extraction is typically carried out through open-pit mining or dredging of sediment from water bodies. After extraction, gravel is processed by washing to remove fines, drying, and grading to meet specific size or quality requirements.

Uses and applications: Ghiaia serves as a primary construction material in many civil works. It is used as aggregate in concrete, as a base and subbase for roads and foundations, for drainage layers, and in landscaping and railway ballast. Quality and grading standards vary by country and application, with washed and properly graded gravel often preferred for concrete and drainage uses.

See also: Gravel, Construction aggregate, Mining and quarrying.