# Use of Mineral Waste for the Production of Artificial Aggregates
## 1 Introduction  
Highly developed countries produce huge amounts of industrial waste. The quantity and type of this waste are strongly correlated with the characteristics of its source industry. Given the significant potential of industrial waste to harm the environment, its disposal and management represent major challenges; however, industrial waste is also a promising alternative to natural raw materials [1]. Developing a thorough understanding of the features that characterize a given waste type (e.g., its chemical and phase composition, technical characteristics, and releasability of constituents to aquatic and soil environments) allows applications to be developed for the waste, thus yielding potential environmental and economic benefits [2; 3].  
Vast amounts of industrial waste are generated in Poland, with a volume of 115 million tons produced in 2022 [4]. More than 53% of this waste originates from mining and mineral processing (mainly coal and copper ones). Less than 19% of the waste is derived from industrial processing, such as smelling of iron, steel, copper, zinc, and lead.  
In addition to current waste generation, there are many waste accumulations (i.e., piles, tips, and dumps) where huge volumes of industrial waste have been deposited for over more than 200 years [5]. The total amount of industrial waste currently deposited in Poland is estimated at 1,828,940 thousand tons, representing a significant environmental burden [4]. Waste dumps often occupy attractive sites in city centers, which could be used for other purposes if the waste were removed and the land reclaimed. In addition, mineral waste may contain valuable components that can be economically utilized given current recovery techniques and market prices. Under such circumstances, mineral waste dumps can be treated as anthropogenic deposits [6; 7; 8; 9].  
One of the simplest applications of mineral waste is in the generation of artificial aggregates. The production of artificial aggregates reduces the need for the quarrying of natural aggregates and can often also reduce transport costs, thus leading to energy savings and reduced economic costs. However, artificial aggregates may differ in their technical characteristics from traditionally used natural aggregates and may also be a source of hazardous substances that can migrate into aquatic and soil environments [2; 3].  
Accordingly, the use of mineral waste for producing artificial aggregates requires a good understanding of the waste's properties, in particular in terms of its mineral (phase) composition, chemical composition, and the likely interactions of the waste with aquatic and soil environments. This study describes the characteristics of the most important mineral waste types that are used in Poland for producing artificial aggregates and the characteristics of the resulting aggregates.  
All co-authors have many years of scientific, research, and practical experience in the topics presented in this article. An extensive literature research was also conducted, including articles in scientific journals from the Web of Science database, as well as industry magazines and archival publications.  
The research results on mineral waste and artificial aggregates produced from these wastes, collected in one publication, constitute a comprehensive reference for researchers and practitioners in the field of waste management and construction materials. This study will be particularly useful for those who plan to use artificial aggregates for economic reasons, but do not have knowledge of their impact on the water and ground environment.