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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QEdKG1l2/vGi37kKlWxkvALkwjG3c3yOPMwsBDkkIUlcnQPHsCv2PWosTsd0dZQJ
 boI81kFU1JAKY59uuOeVWw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000103973-03-000270.txt : 20031218
<SEC-HEADER>0000103973-03-000270.hdr.sgml : 20031218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031218160528
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000103973-03-000270
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DENSON WILLIAM F III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204571

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04033
		FILM NUMBER:		031062498

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VULCAN MATERIALS CO
		STREET 2:		1200 URBAN CENTER DR
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35242

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VULCAN MATERIALS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000103973
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MINING, QUARRYING OF NONMETALLIC MINERALS (NO FUELS) [1400]
		IRS NUMBER:				630366371
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 URBAN CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35242
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2052983000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 385014
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35238-5014
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001204571d20031218f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-10</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000103973</issuerCik><issuerName>VULCAN MATERIALS CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>VMC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001204571</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>DENSON WILLIAM F III</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>1200 URBAN CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>35242</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SVP GEN CNSL&amp;SE</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOw
ner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-10</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>779</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>46.64</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17847</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivati
veHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>34703</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Indirect - By 401(k)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>438</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Indirect - By Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Amy M. Tucker</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></
ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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