Sign In
Learn bits
Science & Tech.
Mahesh

31/01/23 07:38 AM IST

M Sand Projects

In News
  • Coal India Ltd (CIL) has envisaged processing the fragmented rock (known as Overburden Rocks (OB) for sand production in mines.
M Sand
  • M sand is a form of artificial sand, manufactured by crushing large hard stones, mainly rocks or granite, into fine particles, which are then washed and finely graded.
  • It is widely used as a substitute for river sand for construction purposes, mostly in the production of concrete and mortar mix
  • Sand is classified as a ‘minor mineral’. The administrative control over minor minerals lies with the State Governments and is regulated through state-specific rules.
  • Due to high demand, regulated supply, and a complete ban on sand mining during monsoon to protect river ecosystems, finding alternatives to river sand became necessary.
  • Sand Mining Framework (2018) prepared by the Ministry of Mines envisages alternative sources of sand in the form of Manufactured Sand (M-Sand) from crushed rock fines (crusher dust), and sand from Overburden (OB) of coal mines.
Benefits
  • It can be produced in large quantities at a lower cost.
  • In grain size and shape, which can be beneficial for construction projects that require a specific type of sand.
  • Helps reduce the need for mining natural sand, which can have negative environmental impacts.
  • Additionally, using the overburden from coal mines can help to repurpose materials that would otherwise be considered waste.
  • Lesser Sand extraction from the river will reduce erosion of channel beds & banks and protect the water habitat
  • Help maintain the water table
Issues
  • Due to its smooth and angular textures, it leads to more water and cement requirements to achieve the expected workability, thereby increase in overall costs.
  • If the M Sand contains a large number of micro fine particles, it can affect the strength and workability of concrete.
Source- PIB

More Related Current Affairs View All

17 Sep

Reasons Behind the heavy rain in Uttarakhand, Himachal

'Dehradun and several other districts in Uttarakhand have experienced very heavy rainfall over the past few days, triggering landslides in multiple areas and causing rivers to swel

Read More

08 Sep

Rajasthan’s coaching centre Bill

'The Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2025, is a significant piece of legislation passed by the Rajasthan Assembly to regulate and oversee the state's burg

Read More

28 Aug

IADT-1

'Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-1), a crucial milestone in the preparation for the countr

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps