M Sand Meaning: Difference Between M Sand Vs River Sand

What Is M Sand?

M sand, also known as manufactured sand, is a type of sand that is produced by crushing hard granite rocks into fine particles. The particles of M sand are cubical in shape and free from impurities like silt, clay, and organic matter. It is an alternative to river sand, which is naturally occurring sand extracted from river beds.

M sand is used in construction as a substitute for river sand, which is becoming scarce due to environmental concerns and regulations on sand mining. M sand is considered a more sustainable and eco-friendly option as it is produced by crushing rocks and does not require the dredging of river beds, which can cause environmental damage.

M sand full form is manufactured sand used as an alternative to conventional river sand. M sand is also durable and suitable for construction purposes as it is free from impurities and has a consistent quality.

M Sand Meaning

M Sand Means is a fine aggregate that is produced by crushing stone, gravel, or slag.

Sand is an important ingredient in making concrete and mortar. The majority of countries in the world now promote the use of M-Sand (Manufactured Sand). Manufactured sand means sand that is produced by crushing quarry and rocks stones to desired sizes.

Read More: Concrete Mix Design Step-By-Step Full Calculation

Difference Between M Sand Vs River Sand

The main difference between M sand and river sand is in their origin and composition. M sand is produced from crushing hard granite rocks, whereas river sand is naturally available and extracted from river beds.

M sand particles are cubical in shape, while river sand particles are rounded in shape due to the natural action of water and erosion.

River Sand	M Sand
Excessive and illegal quarrying of  Natural sand at river beds, resulting in soil erosion and danger to the reservoir structures	100% replacement to River sand and & It is One of the hi-product of aggregates.
Scarcity due to the ban on quarrying activities near the river bed by the Govt. to prevent depletion of natural resource	No scarcity. as the Govt. is encouraging the business to garner tapped revenue.
No control over silt content	Govt. has identified the places and accorded the the sanction for carrying out quarrying and crushing activities without  compromising on any environmental issues
Very long-distance transportation resulted in volume toss on the quantity of sand received at the site.	Sand washing machine to ensure 0% silt content, benefiting best-economized concrete with possibilities of reduction in cement content
Adulteration with filter sand (Unfit to be used in concrete)	Uninterrupted supply even during the rainy season, which in turn facilitates the timely completion of the project.
No guarantee of gradation	No adulteration
Huge inventory cost during monsoon for non-availability	World-class Machine is employed to get the Top Quality Graded aggregates meeting both BIS and Customer requirements, the Consistency on the required gradation is guaranteed.
Fear of not getting sand, if rejected for quality	No fear, the quality is the main focus.
Additional manpower for removal of pebbles & boulders while Loading into the belching plant to avoid pump choke ups	No additional manpower is required to remove boulders or pebbles, which is again cost saving
No mechanism for pricing ethical	Transparency in pricing as the manufacturing the facility is legal and

IS Sieve	River Sand % Age Passing	M-Sand % Age Passing	%  Age passing for single sized aggregates of Normal Sand 115 383 – 19701 Zone II
4.75 mm	99.25	99.75	90 to 100
2.36 mm	93.50	78.25	75 to 100
1.18 mm	48.00	52.00	55 to 90
600 Microns	21.00	38.00	35 to 59
300 Microns	4.00	21.00	08 to 30
150 Microns	0.05	5.00	0 to 10

Read More: What Next, If Concrete Cubes Failed After 28 Days

Some of the Alternatives to River Sand

• Manufactured Sand
• Fly Ash/ Bottom Ash/Pond Ash
• Copper Slag – Filtered Sand
• Sea Sand, Slag Sand
• Crushed Waste Glass
• Recycled Aggregate/C&D Waste Aggregate etc.

The demand for alternative materials of river sand for making concrete is increasing day by day as river sand cannot meet the rising demand of the construction sector.

It is fact that the river sand takes millions of years to form. Because of limited sources of natural sand, the cost of River sand has skyrocketed and its consistent supply cannot be guaranteed. Under this condition the use of manufactured sand becomes inevitable.

Read More: Load Calculation On Column, Beam, And Slab

Issues and General Requirements of M Sand

The Civil engineers, Architects, Builders, and Contractors agree that the river sand, that is available today, is deficient in many respects. It does contain very high silt fine particles (as in the case of Filter sand).

Sometimes the presence of other impurities like coal, bones, shells, mica, silt, etc makes M–sand unfit for use in cement concrete, and due to the weathering effect, this material decays which results in shortening the life of the concrete.

Nowadays, the government has implemented restrictions on river sand exploration and uses. Sand Mining from the river bed has a deep impact on the environment, as the water table goes deeper & ultimately dries.

 General Requirements Ideal Sand

1. M-Sand particles should have a higher crushing value.

2. The surface texture of M Sand particles should be smooth and even.

3. The Particles should have a rounded shape.

4. The Percentage of fines below 600 microns in the sand should not be less than 3.

5. M sand should not contain any organic impurities.

6. Silt contained in M Sand should not be more than 2%, for crushed sand.

7.  The number of fines below 75 microns shall not exceed 15% in M–Sand.

Read More: How To Check Compressive Strength Of Concrete

The Advantages of M Sand

1. More Cost-effective than Natural Sand

M–Sand manufacturing plant can be set up near the area of consumption, bringing down the cost of transportation and providing an assurance of consistent supply.

2. Compliant With the New European Standards

M-Sand can be used as aggregates in screed and concrete mixes, as per EN13139. As it can be utilized for blended mixture with natural sand.

3. Less Disruptive to the Environment

since the raw material for manufacturing M–sand is away from cities it is less environmental effect. Also, the use of sand can save natural river bed conditions, which is essential for any river.

4. Lesser Impurities and Good Working Properties

It is free of silt and clay particles and has denser particle packing than natural sand. M–sand has better tests like higher flexural strength, better abrasion resistance, higher unit weight, and lower permeability.

Disadvantages of Manufactured Sand

1. Workability Issues

M–Sand comes up with a coarse classification and angular texture than natural sand, which is smooth and rounded due to natural gradation. To overcome this we have added more amount of cement to achieve the expected workability, leading to increased costs.

2. Larger Proportion of Micro Fines

M–Sand contains a large number of fine particles, this is due to its manufacturing process. Excessive fine can affect the strength and workability of concrete.

Manufactured Sand Price

M sand price is around 800 to 1000 rs. per tonne in India.

Expert Opinion

It is a proven fact that concrete manufactured with M Sand performs better than concrete with natural sand as the property of crushed sand is better than that of natural sand.

M-Sand is environmentally friendly as it replaces natural sand. The cost of concrete made up of M-Sand is less than concrete made with natural sand.

Also, Govt. has to encourage the use of M-Sand to save river natural bed strata.

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