On the move

[Denis]

I've been having an odd question bouncing in my head every time I hear mention of volcanoes: How good is volcanic ash for making into concrete or cement?

IIRC, the ancient Romans used to make concrete using volcanic pumice. The Pantheon is still standing...

[George guy]

Well then, if Yellowstone goes off, at least there'll be plenty of cheap concrete for the rebuilding effort.

[Captain Wheelgun]

I've been having an odd question bouncing in my head every time I hear mention of volcanoes: How good is volcanic ash for making into concrete or cement?

IIRC, the ancient Romans used to make concrete using volcanic pumice. The Pantheon is still standing...

Yep, and not a stick of rebar anywhere in it, that we know of.

[Lokidude]

Just a quick update, I made it and am alive. Internet is limited to the Crackberry for a couple days though.

[HTRN]

I've been having an odd question bouncing in my head every time I hear mention of volcanoes: How good is volcanic ash for making into concrete or cement?

IIRC, the ancient Romans used to make concrete using volcanic pumice. The Pantheon is still standing...

Concrete and cement are two seperate things.

One of the ingredients in Concrete is Portland Cement - which is made by burning and then processing limestone. The other ingredients in Concrete is agregate(IE small rocks/gravel), sand, and water. I suspect that Volcanic ash may be used as a substitute for Sand, and possibly aggregate if it can be rendered unto a suitable size.

BTW, it's called Portland cement, because the "inventor"(rediscoverer actually) noted it's resemblence to portland stone.

Concrete, along with Oil and Steel form the triangle of the modern infrastructure of Western Civilization.


HTRN