Crusher Dust

The Truro Amateur Athletics Club’s running track was built in the 1890s of crusher dust. Crusher dust is finely-ground rock, a byproduct of crushing rock to make it suitable for construction.

According to the TAAC Revitalization Project, the Truro Amateur Athletic Club was formed to establish a playing field capable of accommodating a wide range of sports. A rough field in the town’s west end was purchased and turned into a facility that hosted major competitions in sports including cricket, lacrosse, football, tennis and baseball. The track was first used for the popular bicycle races of the time before evolving into a major track and field venue.

Crusher dust is used in places like driveways and walkways, and as a foundation under bricks and paving stones, water tanks, piping and anything that will be paved or covered over.

Crusher dust is also used in gardening as a natural fertilizer. It contains minerals that are insoluble to water, which makes it a good material to stop mineral leaching in soils; to reduce water logging; and to raise the pH levels of the soil. Using crusher dust in horticulture can also aerate the soil and facilitate root growth.

Nova Scotia has a network of quarries throughout the province that provide the aggregate we need to build and maintain our infrastructure. Aggregate makes up about 80% of concrete and 94% of asphalt.

Aggregate is the most-mined material in the world because it is used in virtually all infrastructure, including homes, roads, schools and hospitals.

Nova Scotia needs 10-15 million tons of new aggregate each year for infrastructure.

Sorting rock in a rock crusher.

Crushed rock.