Quarrying is the extraction of stones from natural rock surfaces. Stone quarrying is not the same as mining. Mining is only done underground, whereas quarrying is done on the exposed surface of natural rocks to the sun’s light. Stone quarrying is typically done in hilly areas with a plentiful supply of stone.
The stone industry is broadly classified according to the purpose of the stone- construction, paving blocks, curbstones, blackboards, and monumental use. The location of a quarry will be determined by the need for a specific type of stone, the intended use and what we will use most of the time. The materials include granitic rocks, limestones, marbles, slates, sandstones, and others.
Crushed stone is used for concrete aggregate, road metal, ballast, manufacturing stone, portland cement, refractories, and various chemical and metallurgical applications.
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Quarry stone: How to make site selection while quarrying stones
- The site should be close to human living areas where labour and tools are always available as the necessary materials.
- At least one mode of transportation (road, railway, port, or all) should be available.
- A clean water source should be close to the quarry.
- Stones of good quality and quantity should be available.
- The blasting site should be located far away from permanent structures such as bridges and dams, as the vibrations caused by the blasting may cause damage to them.
- There should be a non-living area available to dump the refuse generated by quarrying.
- A proper drainage system should be available.
- It is necessary to read the site’s geological information.
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Quarry stone: Considerations while quarrying stones
- Cracks and fissures in the rock surface should be thoroughly examined. These may cause planes in the stones, which may cause them to split. The quarrying will then be simple, quick, and cost-effective.
- The machines used should be tested to be used easily and quickly.
- A layout that includes the quarrying operation’s various stages should be created.
- If the site’s top surface contains soft soil, it should be removed and dumped.
- Stone removal should be done with caution, as there is a risk of landslides or slips, which can endanger workers’ lives.
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Quarry stone: Quarrying stones using hand tools
Excavating
In the case of soft stone surfaces, excavation is preferred. The stones are excavated using hammers, pickaxes, and shovels.
Heating
The top surface is heated by placing wood with fuel on top of the rock. The fire is allowed to burn for several hours, causing the top surface to heat up and separate from the rock. Pick axes, crowbars, and other tools are used to remove this separated portion.
If the rock formation contains horizontal layers at shallow depths, the heated stones will be in good condition, making them directly suitable for construction use.
Wedging
This method is useful when the rock has cracks or joints in it. Steel wedges or points are inserted into the cracks or fissures and hammered. The rock portion then separates from the parent rock. If natural gaps exist, artificial holes are drilled in the rock, and wedging is performed.
Quarry stone: Quarrying stones using machines
On-site channelling machines are used for machine quarrying. This machine is powered by steam, compressed air or electricity. The machine creates a groove around the rock and drills horizontal holes beneath the block. As a result, the block separates from its bed.
A channelling machine can create a large groove of 25 metres in length, 55 to 80 mm in width, and 2 to 3.6 metres in depth. This method can thus be used to obtain larger blocks of stone. Machine quarrying is used to mine marble, limestones, and other stones.
FAQs:
What is the quarry stone used for?
Quarries are most commonly used to extract stone for building materials. For thousands of years, people have used quarries. The Great Pyramids, for example, were built by the ancient Egyptians using enormous limestone and granite blocks cut out by hand from nearby quarries. Each of these blocks is quite substantial.
What is the distinction between a mine and a quarry?
Mining is the extraction of buried material beneath the earth's surface. Quarrying is the extraction of materials from the ground.