Grenada Gravel Concrete Product: Sand

QUARRY SAND

Our inland quarry sand has been certified by the University of the West Indies through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Tests conducted by the University confirmed that the “quarry sand produced is capable of making satisfactory concrete to engineering standards”.

Our Quarry Sand is also tested and approved for use in concrete in accordance with ASTM C 1260-05 Standard Test Method for Potential Alkali Reactivity of Aggregates (Motar-Bar Method).

Quarry Sand is produced in a variety of sizes which can be used for various purposes such as:

Sharp sand (also called concreting sand) usually 5mm and finer
Plastering sand; usually 1.5mm and finer. This is most suitable for bricklaying, block laying, mortar for rubble masonry (walls etc.) and for plastering (rendering) of walls and other surfaces.
Mixed coarse sand/fine gravel – this is usually 10mm and finer and is most suitable for the making of concrete blocks.

IMPORTED WHITE SAND

Inland white silica sand provided by Gravel, Concrete & Emulsion Production Corporation is currently imported from Guyana.

The importation was introduced in January 2009 after the Government’s banned the removal of sand from local beaches in Grenada. Local beach sand mining was a practice that became an ecological problem in Grenada as the demand for sand increased in the construction industry.

The sand imported from Guyana is mined from the Rambarran Sand Pit located in Yarakabrra Soesdyke Lindon Highway. The area is approximately 160 acres. Prior to our first importation, a team from Grenada consisting of specialist from the Grenada Pest Management Unit, Laboratory Personnel from Gravel, Concrete & Emulsion Production Corporation visited the sand pit to conduct a series of tests including chemical analysis and inspections for the presence of pests, diseases or any other item or pathways that could introduce harmful impacts to our Country.

White Silica Sand is best used for plastering purposes. Tests conducted by the Grenada Bureau of Standards using ASTM C 144 specifications confirmed that the material meets the grading specification requirement for masonry motar.

BEACH SAND

As of January 2013, the Corporation resumed sale of beach sand to the general public. The sand which is retailed by the Corporation is derived from the cleaning of canals, drains and border areas which are clogged with sand and presents potential environmental hazards such as slowing the flow of land water to the sea thereby causing breeding grounds for mosquitoes etc.

The Corporation received authorization from the Government of Grenada to carry out the cleaning and maintenance of identified areas and resale of the sand gathered from each venture.

Users of this beach sand are reminded of the high salt minerals contained in this product. It is advised that the sand be used mainly for plastering purposes where the salt is unlikely to corrode the steel structures. Ideally, it is recommended that the sand be left aground for a few days to be washed by rain thereby reducing some of the salt minerals. It is strongly recommended that this beach sand is NOT used in concrete works involving direct contact with steel / iron.