Aggregate Mining in Megacities and Existing Problems: An Example from İstanbul, Turkey

In addition to the increasing population and structuring in the growth/development process of a country or megacity, the obligation to maintain industrial and infrastructure investments makes aggregate (crushed stone, etc.) one of the most consumed building materials per capita. Crushed stone, cement and ready-mixed concrete are the basic building blocks of the construction sector and have a great contribution to the development of the industry as well as the increase in national income and employment. However, work safety, environmental problems and increased social opposition to aggregate (crushed stone) open pit mines is intensive and unplanned/irregular urbanization areas are hampering the future sustainable production of medium and large sized enterprises in technical, environmental and economic aspects. The city of İstanbul which has a high aggregate production (90 million tone/year) provides a good example of those issues. In order to maintain efficient and sustainable aggregate resources in İstanbul and its surrounding region, plan and program should be reviewed and new strategies evaluated to facilitate the sustainable management of resources. In this regard, the importance of existing resources and their possibilities, determining operable new resources and their management have been considered.