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Background of Crumbling Foundations in Connecticut

Beginning in the early 1980s, stone aggregate sourced from Becker’s Quarry by J.J. Mottes, a concrete company, was used in the construction of several northeastern Connecticut homes. The quarry is located on a vein of rock containing significant amounts of pyrrhotite, a naturally occurring iron sulfide mineral, and as a result the stone aggregate used to produce concrete also contained elevated amounts of this mineral. Pyrrhotite expands when exposed to water and oxygen, which causes concrete containing it to crack and swell. Foundations containing pyrrhotite may develop cracks and gaps that expand over time, impacting the attached structure and causing the concrete to crumble. According to the Capitol Region Council of Governments, homes in at least 36 Connecticut towns are potentially affected by crumbling concrete foundations.

"Crumbling Concrete Foundations in Connecticut"
By: Alex Reger, Associate Analyst.
September 19, 2018