Aggregate sources and supplies in Jamaica

Aggregate resources in Jamaica are sand and gravel found in active river systems, and limestone. Other rocks in Cretaceous inliers and elsewhere are generally too weathered at the surface or too remote from centres of population to be considered suitable as significant sources of aggregates. Sand and gravel generally supplies the south of the country with limestone production and markets being concentrated along the northern coastal areas. Limestone aggregates are produced by ripping and crushing, blasting being uncommon. Sand and gravel are often simply processed using a single screen, although fixed crushing and screening plant are used in some operations. The aggregate industry operates inefficiently, generally utilizing old plant, although an economic assessment shows it to be very profitable. Substitution of sand and gravel by limestone would help mitigate the negative environmental impact of extraction of aggregates from active river systems, but would considerably distort the supply of aggregates throughout the country.