This descriptive nomenclature provides information on terms commonly applied to concrete aggregates. This standard is intended to assist in understanding the meaning and significance of the terms.

Many of the materials described frequently occur in particles that do not display all the characteristics given in the descriptions, and most of the described rocks grade from varieties meeting one description to varieties meeting another with all intermediate stages being found.

The accurate identification of rocks and minerals can, in many cases, be made only by a qualified geologist, mineralogist, or petrographer using the apparatus and procedures of these sciences. Reference to these descriptions may, however, serve to indicate or prevent gross errors in identification. Identification of the constituent materials in an aggregate may assist in characterizing its engineering properties, but identification alone cannot provide the sole basis for predicting behavior of aggregates in service. Aggregates of any type or combination of types may perform well or poorly in service depending upon the exposure to which the concrete is subjected, the physical and chemical properties of the matrix in which they are embedded, their physical condition at the time they are used, and other factors. Constituents that may occur only in minor amounts in the aggregate may or may not decisively influence its performance. Information about concrete aggregate performance in concrete has been published by ASTM.

1.1 This descriptive nomenclature provides brief descriptions of some of the more commonly occurring, or more important, natural and artificial materials of which mineral aggregates are composed. The descriptions provide a basis for understanding these terms as applied to concrete aggregates. When appropriate, brief observations regarding the potential effects of using the natural and artificial materials in concrete are discussed.

Note 1—These descriptions characterize minerals and rocks as they occur in nature and blast-furnace slag or lightweight aggregates that are prepared by the alteration of the structure and composition of natural material. Information about lightweight aggregates is given in Specifications C330, C331, and C332.

1.2 This standard does not include descriptions of constituents of aggregates used in radiation shielding concrete. See Descriptive Nomenclature C638.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.