How to crush stone: A simple guide

gray crushed paving stones used for a diveway

Turning large rocks into smaller stones is as easy as it sounds. With the help of some heavy equipment, any construction business handling lots of stone can create a new side business. Recycled crushed stones are used far and wide in lots of different industries from landscaping to highway contractors.

Are you tired of hauling piles of waste stone to the landfill? It might be time to consider turning those piles into a new revenue for you and your business. Crushed stone is in demand as it has so many uses. Depending on the size and type of crushed stone, different industries have different needs. These range from clean stone used as top layers of driveways all the way to road base in paving projects.

How to crush large rocks into smaller stones

To crush stone, you will firstly need a constant supply of large rocks. You might already be lucky and have loads at your job site! Some common rock examples are granite, caliche, and limestone. Small batches of soft rocks such as sandstone and caliche can be roughly broken up by a hydraulic breaker attached to an excavator. If the rocks are harder (granite and basalt) they will require more crushing power. A compact jaw crusher will be necessary for this job. If your goal is to crush natural stone, consider investing in a larger mobile jaw crusher as these will give you a lot more crushing power to break down that hard rock.

What types of stone can you crush?

Stones come in a range of ‘hardnesses’ meaning some stones are harder than others. Hard rocks like granite have a stronger structure and are harder to break up - just think of how strong diamond is! Hard rock is great for building materials as it is very durable but in crushing this means that they will need a lot more energy and power to break them down. Soft stone like sandstone and limestone is crushed a lot more easily.

A good rule of thumb - if you think the rock is stronger or harder than concrete or can easily be chipped away by your fingernail - it is probably a hard rock. Below is a list of different kinds of stone rated by how hard they are:

table comparing the different kinds of rocks and their harness — Types of rocks and their hardness

After large rocks have been crushed into smaller stones, they can be separated by size using a screener. Different projects can call for different sizes of crushed stones so it may be important for you to add a screener into your process after crushing. Large stones, medium stones, small stones, and stone dust should be separated into their own piles. At that point, the stones you have made can be used on your projects or sold to the public.

screener on site being used to separate stone into three piles of different sizes — Screener separating different sized stone

What can crushed stone be used for?

Crushed stone has many uses and is an excellent way to recycle excess rock waste that would otherwise be headed for the landfill. There is a high demand for crushed stone across many industries making it very popular with contractors. Here are a few ways crushed stone can be used in the construction and landscaping industries:

To smooth and level roads under the pavement
Enhance soil to improve crop growing conditions
Stone fill to support pipes and drainage beds
Protect roofing and reduce the heat from the sun
Prevent ice and water erosion when building bridges
As a buffer layer between concrete and soil
Decorative purposes in landscaping

Since crushed stone can be left as chunky rocks or crushed as fine as sand, it is multipurpose and in high demand across nearly all areas of construction.

What equipment should I use to crush rock?

Different machines are used for different hardnesses of stone. The smaller jaw crushers will not be able to cope with large amounts of hard stone as they will cause a lot of wear-and-tear on the jaw plates. This would mean they would need regular maintenance and replacement. If you want to crush lots of hard rock you would need a heavy-duty machine such as the Omega J1065T jaw crusher or Rockster R900 impact crusher.

Most jaw crushers will crush soft rock quickly and easily. The ARK 704 jaw crusher would be a perfect machine for the job. Find a full list of the best stone and rock crushers here. Lets not forget about stone and rock screeners too - they are really important for making your DOT approved crushed stone product!

Machinery Partner’s experts are here to help

With so many heavy equipment options out there, deciding which machine is best for your job can be difficult. Our experts can help you make that choice. They will talk you through the stone you want to crush vs. the heavy equipment suitable to get the job done. We are always here to help you figure out which machine is right for you, your budget, and your business. Contact one of Machinery Partner’s crushing experts today for more information. Check out our range of stone crushing machines here!

Machinery Partner specializes in crushers, screeners, excavators, & more. We are also here to help with financing and maintenance of all our machines to keep you up and running!

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