Ash Grove Cement recently acquired Geofortis, operator of a Toole, Utah, raw natural pozzolan milling and classifying line and nearby deposit.
Since starting production in 2021, Geofortis has obtained approvals for its supplementary cementitious material from agencies in California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. They are among Western states where public or private construction interests are evolving concrete specifications due to diminishing fly ash availability.
Integration of the Geofortis facility and its team, Ash Grove President Serge Smith noted in a LinkedIn post, “aligns perfectly with our long-term growth strategy and commitment to sustainability. High-quality natural pozzolan products complement our existing portfolio and will enable us to offer more environmentally friendly solutions to customers. This acquisition reinforces our dedication to developing sustainable solutions that build, connect, and improve our world.”
In addition to fly ash substitution, raw or calcined (metakaolin) natural pozzolans are emerging as partial portland cement replacements in concrete mix designs for projects with low-carbon material requirements. American Concrete Institute and Natural Pozzolan Association committee and standards development work have dovetailed Geofortis and peers’ site permitting and material processing capacity ramp up.
