Killustumine

Killustumine is a term used in Estonian-language technical literature to describe the process of breaking down a material into smaller particles or granules. It is commonly discussed in relation to the production of construction aggregates and to natural fragmentation processes in geology.

In the context of construction and materials processing, killustumine refers to the mechanical size reduction of rock or mineral feedstock to produce gravel, sand, or other aggregate fractions. The process typically involves crushing and milling operations, followed by screening to separate material by size. Equipment used may include jaw crushers, cone crushers, impact crushers, hammer mills, and ball mills, often in combination with washing and crushing stages to achieve a specified particle-size distribution.

In geology and sedimentology, killustumine can describe natural fragmentation and comminution of rocks due to weathering, abrasion, and transport by water, wind, or ice. The term emphasizes the formation of finer sediments and the evolution of grain size through diagenetic or depositional processes.

Applications and implications of killustumine cover material performance in concrete and asphalt, drainage properties of soils, and the environmental management of aggregate production, including dust control and energy efficiency. Understanding particle-size distribution and shape is important for workability, strength, and durability in end products.

Etymology: the term derives from the Estonian root related to killustik (gravel, aggregate) with the suffix -umine indicating a process.

See also: comminution, milling, crushing, screening, aggregate production.