A Comprehensive Guide To Our Quarried Stone Products

Over the centuries, mankind has discovered how to extract invaluable natural resources from the earth. These have then been used to further our quest for industrial growth and development, where new extraction methods have supported an increase in demand for these essential resources.

Quarries are typically used for the extraction of natural rock and stone, where these open-pit mines allow for different rock types to be removed from the earth, sorted and sold. Our own quarry in the heart of Dumbarton has supplied natural stone to clients across the South of Scotland for over 70 years, where we’re proud of our high-quality, diverse product range.

Our products include building sand, stone, gravel and recycled aggregates, where these are essential materials for the completion of both domestic and commercial construction projects. Read on to find out more about our full range of quarry products, with a look at how they are typically used.

Our Quarry Products

Whether you need natural quarry products for domestic infrastructure tasks or commercial road resurfacing, we have the stone solution to suit you. Many of our stone products come complete with CE markings, which indicate that they are of a good enough standard to be traded on the European market.

Beyond this, each item we provide is available in the size and quantity of your choosing, so you can ensure that you’re getting exactly what you need for your project. Our comprehensive quarried stone range includes:

Crusher Run 

Also known as hardcore, this dense grade aggregate is mixed with finer materials that bind the large stones together when compacted. In general crusher run products can consist of crushed limestone or granite, where these are available in various sizes and quantities. This aggregate can be used for a variety of different applications, where it is typically selected for use as a base material in road construction, as it can provide a compact, sturdy surface.

Drainage Stone

We also supply drainage stone to our customers, where this is available in various sizes. Drainage stone is a type of porous gravel or crushed stone which can improve drainage standards in a variety of contexts. More specifically, it can be used to prevent both domestic gardens and commercial landscapes from becoming waterlogged, in addition to altering soil composition for improved agricultural success.

Gabion Stone

Natural gabion stone is an irregularly shaped rock type, where this is usually made from granite, slate or basalt. These stone products are typically used to fill gabion or rock baskets that can be used for construction projects, architectural landscaping or domestic gardening. 

A gabion basket is a wire mesh container filled with these rocks, where this structure can come in handy for building retaining walls, erosion barriers and other sturdy structures. This is because they help to provide stability whilst allowing some water to flow through the loosely packed rocks.

Armour Stone

Armour stone is another natural product that can be sourced from our quarries, where this can be used as a particularly coarse, heavy aggregate. Known for its durability and water resistance, armour stone is typically chosen for erosion control purposes and for protecting coastal sites from flooding. These stones can be positioned carefully in order to absorb powerful wave energy, helping to protect coastlines from potentially costly storm and flood damage.

Whindust

This fine grained, powdery material is usually produced as a by-product of other quarrying operations, where it may also be known as wind-blown dust. Windust is typically blended with other building materials to make it more useful, such as with aggregates to create specific concrete mixes. As such, it may be utilised to create a firm base beneath landscaping features, or as a foundational layer for paving stones and patios.

Concrete Sand

Our concrete sand is a coarse, granular material that comes in handy for a range of essential construction projects. Concrete sand has a specific particle size that distinguishes it from regular sand, where this means it can be mixed with cement, water and other aggregates in order to make concrete. This kind of sand is usually required to add strength and malleability to concrete mixes. As such it is particularly useful for large scale infrastructure projects such as the manufacturing of bridges, pavements and commercial buildings.

Environmental Commitments

At our quarry, we’re proud of our environmentally friendly approach to excavation and resource management. We put sustainability at the forefront of everything we do here, where we are devoted to neutralising and reducing the negative environmental impact produced by quarrying.

Our sustainability efforts centre around our on-site recycling plant, our well-managed landfill initiatives and our supply of recycled aggregates. These combined projects allow us to deliver natural stone resources to the people of Scotland whilst protecting our planet.

At WM Thompson, we work closely with a range of environmental protection bodies across Scotland to ensure that our approach to sustainability is compliant and successful. These professional bodies include:



• S.E.P.A. (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency)
• Historic Scotland
• Environmental Health
• West Dunbartonshire Council

With their support, we’re able to do our best for our customers and for the planet, all whilst delivering top quality stone products on a daily basis.

Our Recycled Aggregates

We understand that supplying recycled materials is a great way to offset the negative impact of quarrying, where these secondary aggregates are much more sustainable than virgin stone. 

By reusing materials from other projects, we are reducing the energy consumption required to source brand new materials whilst also minimising waste.This means that these aggregates have a low carbon footprint and are usually more affordable than brand new rock. 

Our range of recycled aggregates is designed to meet a variety of project needs, so you can benefit from our eco-friendly rock no matter what you’re working on. Currently our selection includes:

Crushed concrete - This aggregate type is made up of broken shards of concrete, where this material can be used for a variety of construction applications. Most commonly, crushed concrete is chosen for the creation of pathways and road surfaces, where it can also be used for drainage and as structural fill for foundations.

Aggregate gravel - This recycled material may be made from second hand concrete pieces or reclaimed asphalt, where it can be used in a similar way to crushed concrete. Usually, aggregate gravel is used for road laying and garden design projects, where it can form decorative pathways as well as a base for water features.

Asphalt products - Our range of recycled aggregates also includes asphalt products, where these come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit different project needs. Recycled asphalt can be added to new asphalt mixes, reducing the need for virgin aggregates to be quarried. As with other aggregate types, asphalt can be used for the surfacing of roads and other durable paved surfaces.

Reclaimed stone - We source our reclaimed stone from demolition sites or construction projects, where this reduces the need to quarry for new materials. This type of stone is incredibly versatile and can be used for a variety of landscaping purposes, including for decorative features and retaining walls. It can also be crushed for use in aggregate mixes, where these are essential for paving and road building.

Our Landfill Site

At WM Thomspon & Sons, we endeavour to prioritise sustainability in all aspects of our quarrying work, where this extends to our landfill site. We carefully separate out recyclable or reusable materials following a waste collection, where this can then be sorted at our on-site recycling facility.

When we’re left with non-recyclable waste, we ensure that this is always handled safely and correctly to help manage our environmental impact. Each stage of our waste management process is completed in line with official guidance from S.E.P.A. and Environmental Health.

WM Thompson & Sons: Premium Quarry Products & Recycled Aggregates

Our quarried stone products can help you to complete your project to the best possible standard, whether you’re looking for drainage stone, crusher run or whindust. All of our natural stone products are carefully selected and inspected to ensure that they meet our high quality expectations, so you can rest assured that you’re buying the very best. 

Additionally, we supply a variety of crushed stone aggregates and recycled asphalt products, helping you to minimise your environmental impact as you build. You can also choose us for professional waste removal, recycling and haulage services. Simply get in touch with us today to find out more about how we can help.