The difference between pebbles and gravel
The use of natural materials in landscape design and construction is becoming increasingly popular. A rich selection of materials opens up scope for the imagination of the master. But not everyone knows how crushed stone, pebbles and gravel differ. And these materials, similar at first glance, have many differences.
What is gravel?
When determining the difference between crushed pebbles and gravel, it is important to understand how certain materials were formed. Gravel is a loose coarse sedimentary rock formed during the natural destruction of solid stone deposits.
It is classified based on the size of the individual debris, resulting in:
large — up to 10 mm;
medium — from 2.5 to 5 mm;
small — up to 2.5 mm.
This rock is distinguished by a rough surface and the presence of admixtures of sand (“Песок” in Russian), clay (“Глина” in Russian), and organic components. River and sea gravel is smoother than mountain gravel, which reduces adhesion when used in concrete solutions.
Using pebbles
Pebbles (“Галька” in Russian) are a product of river or sea origin. It represents pebbles polished with water and acquired a rounded shape.
There are the following types of pebbles:
marble — used for landscape design and is made artificially, by grinding fragments of marble;
white — natural material collected near rivers;
gray — in the form of small glossy stones, used as a finishing material for baths or saunas;
black — performed as a result of processing dolomite or marble, with polishing and coating with a polymer composition;
marine — collected on the coast of the seas, can be divided, depending on the name of the reservoir;
silicon — used in water treatment plants, since it absorbs various chemical elements well, purifying water;
glass — obtained artificially, after processing the fragments of this material; used for decorative purposes.
In addition to those listed, various decorative options for this material are widespread, used for finishing work.
This composition, depending on the size of individual pebbles, is divided into small and large. The first is well suited for making crafts or interior decoration, the second — for decorating garden alleys, reservoirs.
The main difference between various types of pebbles and gravel is that this stone is characterized by a round shape and smoothness obtained in the process of natural or artificial processing.
Crushed stone and its classification
Crushed stone(“Щебень” in Russian)is a building material obtained by crushing natural stone. It is used in concrete solutions. Individual varieties, painted in different colors, are used as decorative material to decorate the landscape.
Depending on the properties and origin, crushed stone is divided into the following types:
secondary — from breaking concrete chips;
granite — after crushing igneous rock;
gravel — a product of crushing sedimentary rocks;
limestone — used for the construction of low-traffic roads, as a separate component for fertilizers;
marble — used for decorative purposes;
shale — from volcanic rocks;
slag — from waste of metallurgy or chemical enterprises.
Along with gravel and pebbles, it is classified according to the size of the fractions that determine the possibilities of its use.
The main feature that allows you to establish what is the difference between crushed stone, gravel and pebbles is the origin of these materials. This determines the properties of these building materials and the possibility of their use.
