LECA Lightweight aggregate is a type of coarse aggregate that is used in the production of lightweight concrete products such as concrete block, structural concrete, and pavement. Most lightweight aggregate is produced from materials such as clay, shale, or slate. Blast furnace slag, natural pumice, vermiculite, and perlite can be used as substitutes, however. To produce lightweight aggregate, the raw material (excluding pumice) is expanded to about twice the original volume of the raw material. The expanded material has properties similar to natural aggregate,