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AREMA Ballast - Ordovician Dolomitic Limestone

AREMA Ballast (4,4a & 5) is produced using premium Ordovician Dolomitic Limestone. It is manufactured to specified physical properties and predetermined sizes. Because the material is impacted by high vibratory movement when utilized by railroads, the quality of material must be of the highest quality available.

The Perfect AREMA Ballast

AREMA Ballast (4, 4a, & 5) is also known as ballast stonerailroad ballast, walking ballast, mainline ballast, shortline ballast, and yard ballast,  This material is used primarily for railroads as mainline ballast or cross walk material. Because the purpose of AREMA Ballast is to improve drainage. Ordovician Dolomitic Limestone is the perfect source material. Ordovician Dolomitic Limestone’s physical properties enhance drainage and it’s interlocking shape helps to stabilize and disperse the load of the overall track structure.

AREMA Ballast in Agricultural Construction

AREMA Ballast (4, 4a, & 5) is very effective when used as a base for agricultural construction.  It is a excellent choice of bedding material because of it’s drainage properties. These properties promote the stabilization of roadways where water or traffic may cause soft sections.

Producing Pattison AREMA Ballast

Pattison produces AREMA Ballast products in our state-of-the-art, jaw/cone crushing plant. Our plant features a compression crushing system that is designed to reduce fines and increase fractured faces. Pattison high quality AREMA Ballast is excellent for shortline railroads and private company rail sidings.

AREMA Ballast Direct to Rail Loadout

With a direct to rail transfer system, products move quickly from production to rail loading with minimal handling. This dramatically reduces product degradation and handling costs. Aggregates can be delivered directly onto railroad tracks with Pattison’s bottom dump hopper cars. This saves our customers additional handling costs.

Pattison’s facility offers multiple quality ledges that meet railroad specifications throughout the United States. When used in non-railroad environments such as roadways,  superior freeze/thaw properties reduce maintenance costs and enhance durability. Here’s what Wikipedia has to say.

More about Ordovician Dolomitic Limestone

When it comes to rock, age really matters.  Ordovician Dolomitic Limestone is some of the highest quality, hardest and most durable anywhere in Iowa. Ordovocian formations are only found in the northeast portion of Iowa. Pattison’s Clayton, IA quarry site is right in the middle of it.

Ballast Stone Certifications

CertificationsSizesTech SizeMaterial Type
Iowa Interstate RailroadGradation 4a
Gradation 5
2-1/2"X3/4"
1"x3/8"
Dolomitic Limestone
AREMAAREMA 4
AREMA 4a
AREMA 5
1.5" x 3/4"
2" x 3/4"
1" x 3/8"
Dolomitic Limestone

Ballast Stone Properties

PropertyValue
Bulk Specific Gravity2.60 to 2.79
Absorption1.0% to 1.9%
Deleterious materials0% to .14%
Degradation24% to 34.5%
Sodium Sulfate Soundness1% to 4.8%
Flat & Elongated Particles2.5% to 5%
Disclosure: The information presented above is to the best of our knowledge accurate based on testing by certified independent laboratories. Any recommendations or suggestions are made without guarantee since conditions and/or material handling are out of our control. Pattison warrants that purchased product will meet the specifications set forth by the buyer.

State of the art Aggregate Plant

Pattison’s newly installed Cone Crusher and production plant is state-of-the-art, producing some of the highest quality Ordovician Dolomitic Limestone AREMA Ballast.

Material is separated into various required sizes without inducing fractures, while yielding a refined individual rack shape that is the most desirable for tight compaction and stability. Pattison’s new aggregate plant produces AREMA Ballast of exceptional quality.

Pattison Roadrock Plant

Logistics second to none

Pattison recently completed its Rail Spur project, extending multiple rail lines directly into our new state-of-the-art aggregate production plant!.

Pattison’s advanced direct to rail loadout system coupled with the Pattison rail spur allows aggregate products to be loaded directly from the production plant on to enclosed rail ore cars for delivery. Eliminating excess handling saves costs, and insures a higher quality product.

Pattison Direct to rail load out

Pattison High Quality Aggregates and Proppants

Pattison produces high quality ordovician dolomitic limestone Aggregates and silica proppants.  Our Clayton IA, quarry contains multiple limestone ledges yielding material with a variety of properties that meet various requirements.  Our products are certified for use by multiple state Departments of Transportation, and the FAA.

Revetment Stone

Asphalt Stone

Ballast Stone

Concrete Stone

Clean Stone

Fine Aggregate

RoadRock

Proppants

Specialty Products

Contact our Aggregate Sales Team for more information!

Contact our Aggregate Team Now!

Our quarry is located in Clayton, IA. We are one of the only sources of Aggregates and Proppants that can load directly to Rail, Truck or Barge from the same facility! Our logistic & delivery systems out pace our competitors. We’d love to hear from you!

Contact information

Aggregate Team

:  (563) 964-0106

: AggInfo@pattisonsand.com

Main Office

701 1st Street
Clayton, IA 52049

: (563) 964-2860

: info@pattisonsand.com

Operations Office

24312 Mississippi Rd., Clayton, IA 52049

Hours of operation

Office Open Monday – Friday: 8am to 4pm
Operating Hours – 24/7