what is the difference between M sand and Crushed sand? and how to differentiate between these two?

Dnyan Deshmukh

Staff member
M Sand stands for Manufactured Sand, Crush sand is also a manufactured sand.
M Sand is specially manufactured sand from a 10 mm size aggregates with a technology for removing dust either by wet or dry collecting method.

M Sand and Crush Sand are almost identical to each other except the finer particle size percentage and the shape of the particle.

M Sand do have more cubical or round shape and has less amount of fines passing through 150 micron, this helps in making it usable for doing plastering and waterproofing.

Crush sand is used for doing concrete from a very long time and is good for concrete production if the mixes are designed properly and the source of sand is having consistent production to same properties.

Normally crush sand is the first choice by almost everyone due to the cheaper price over M Sand.

How to differentiate between

M Sand looks like river sand, the more gravel type cubical or roundish particles and less amount of dust in it which is also look blackish.

Crush Sand can vary depending on the type of manufacturing unit such as jaw crusher or VSI or any other technology. but crush sand is easy to identify as its just a crushed rock sand.

You should check the all properties of crush sand such as gradation, water absorption, specific gravity etc. before doing mix design and should only be used after doing trials at laboratory.
 
M Sand stands for Manufactured Sand, Crush sand is also a manufactured sand.
M Sand is specially manufactured sand from a 10 mm size aggregates with a technology for removing dust either by wet or dry collecting method.

M Sand and Crush Sand are almost identical to each other except the finer particle size percentage and the shape of the particle.

M Sand do have more cubical or round shape and has less amount of fines passing through 150 micron, this helps in making it usable for doing plastering and waterproofing.

Crush sand is used for doing concrete from a very long time and is good for concrete production if the mixes are designed properly and the source of sand is having consistent production to same properties.

Normally crush sand is the first choice by almost everyone due to the cheaper price over M Sand.

How to differentiate between

M Sand looks like river sand, the more gravel type cubical or roundish particles and less amount of dust in it which is also look blackish.

Crush Sand can vary depending on the type of manufacturing unit such as jaw crusher or VSI or any other technology. but crush sand is easy to identify as its just a crushed rock sand.

You should check the all properties of crush sand such as gradation, water absorption, specific gravity etc. before doing mix design and should only be used after doing trials at laboratory.
Thank you so much
 
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Kindly refer to IS 383 2016
Clause
3.1.2 Crushed Sand
3.1.2.1
Crushed stone sand - Fine aggregate produced
by crushing hard stone.
3.1.2.2 Crushed gravel sand - Fine aggregate
produced by crushing natural gravel.
3.1.3 Mixed Sand - Fine aggregate produced by
blending natural sand and crushed stone sand or crushed
gravel sand in suitable proportions.
3.1.4 Manufactured Fine Aggregate (Manufactured
Sand) Fine aggregate manufactured from other than
natural sources, by processing materials, using thermal
or other processes such as separation, washing, crushing
and scrubbing.
NOTE - Manufactured fine aggregate may be Recycled
Concrete Aggregate (RCA) (see Annex A).