By Mark S. Kuhar British artist Justin Bateman creates impermanent artwork from found pebbles and stones. The artist, who now lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand, leaves detailed pebble portraits on beaches, in forests, by railways, and up mountains. Each natural-colored stone acts as an individual paint stroke or mark that’s integral to the overall image. There are portraits of renowned…
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USGS: Aggregates Production Flat in 2022
By Mark S. Kuhar At the start of 2022, it was highly anticipated that aggregates production would rise to about 2.80 billion metric tons (Gt) for the year. Well, final numbers are in and the estimated annual output of construction aggregates produced for consumption in 2022 was 2.44 Gt, unchanged from that of 2021, according to Jason Christopher Willett, commodity…
Read MoreUSGS: Nonfuel Mineral Production Jumps $3.6 Billion in 2022
By Mark S. Kuhar U.S. mines produced approximately $98.2 billion in nonfuel mineral commodities in 2022 – an estimated $3.6 billion increase over the 2021 revised total of $94.6 billion, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This information comes from the 28th annual USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries report, released Jan. 31 by the USGS National Minerals Information Center. The report…
Read MoreWhy Was Ancient Roman Concrete So Durable?
By Mark S. Kuhar According to a new article in Science Advances, in contrast to their modern counterparts, ancient Roman mortars and concretes have remained durable in a variety of climates, seismic zones and even in direct contact with seawater, as in the case for maritime concrete. Because of this proven longevity on the order of millennia, these ancient construction…
Read MoreEquipment Finance Outlook
By Mark S. Kuhar In what is likely to be a more challenging year for both the economy and the equipment finance industry, the 2023 forecast for equipment and software investment growth is 4.2%, according to the 2023 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook. The report released by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation also forecasts sluggish U.S. GDP…
Read MorePen State
The Cap-O-Matic Pen is Perfect For Those Whose Work Requires Much More Resilience And Durability From Their Pen. By Mark S. Kuhar Quarry workers almost always have a pen or two in their pocket or in their truck, whether working in the office or at the plant. While writing on a piece of paper in other environments might be easy,…
Read MoreThe Spider Tracker
CEMEX Has Developed Technology That Monitors Concrete During Its Pouring And Hardening To Measure Its Strength In Real-Time. By Mark S. Kuhar CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V has developed a new proprietary technology that monitors concrete during its pouring and hardening to measure its strength in real-time during the construction process. The technology has been named “Spider Tracker” due to its…
Read MoreMartin Marietta Initiates Entrance Sign Project
A companywide effort is underway to ensure every Martin Marietta Materials operation greets its community warmly while meeting a newly established set of high aesthetic guidelines. “It started when we began reviewing our standard Martin Marietta entrance signs and how those signs represent our business to the community,” said Kansas City District Vice President-General Manager Matt Rosenthal. “From there, we…
Read MoreFree Opioid Guide Provides Practical Tips, Sample Policies
By Mark S. Kuhar Miners in the aggregates industry are at an increased risk to opioid harms such as addiction and overdose. Research shows that they are more likely than other workers to be prescribed opioids for work-related pain, with prescriptions often being of a longer and higher dose than other workers. To help industry employers create a positive difference…
Read MoreSand Batteries May Be an Energy Saver
By Mark S. Kuhar A town in Finland is using sand batteries to provide home heating during winter. Sand batteries, you say? Tens of thousands of cubic meters of sand are heated from the generation of electricity with solar panels or wind turbines. Packed tightly in insulated silos, the sand can retain this heat for months without losing it. For…
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