How accurate do you need to be?

The bulk density will depend on the degree of co

mpaction of the material. Air dry aggregate has a bulk density of about 1600 to
1800 kg/m^3, while saturated aggregate has a bulk density of about 1800 to 2100
kg/m^3.
The difference is that the air dry case has a small amount of moisture (a few pe
rcent by weight) and air between the solid grains, while the saturated case has
water between the grains and no air.
Air dry is the value to use if the aggregate is sitting somewhere where it is ab
le to free drain, but will retain some moisture because it is not in an oven. Re
asonable estimates would be 1700 and 1950 respectively, within about 5%, for bulk
aggregate in a stock pile.
The density of the aggregate particles themselves depends slightly on the minera
l, but 2650 kg/m^3 is a good value for silica (e.g. granite, basalt) and is ofte
n a reasonable estimate.
So, your one metric tonne will occupy an overall volume of about 059 m^3 if it i
s air dry aggregate (=1000/1700), 051 m^3 if it is saturated aggregate (=1000/195
0).
In a metric tonne of dry aggregate the solid particles will have a volume of abo
ut 038 m^3 (=1000/2650).
If you are trying to calculate the volume of container needed for one metric ton
ne of dry aggregate, I suggest a bulk density (i.e. solid plus air) of 1700 kg/m
^3.
If you are trying to calculate the volume of container needed for one metric ton
ne of saturated aggregate, I suggest a bulk density (i.e. solid plus water) of 1
950 kg/m^3.
If you are trying to estimate the volume occupied by the solid aggregate particl
es in a concrete mix design, where the weight of the material in the space betwe
en the aggregate particles is being calculated separately, then I suggest a part
icle density of 2650 kg/m^3.
The first two will be accurate to about 5% under normal circumstances, the final
value a little better.

Source(s):
University lecturer in geotechnical engineering