Quarrying Vital Role: Important Considerations for Stone Quarrying Site Selection

Quarrying vital role can not be denied in new modern world. Stone quarrying site selection is an important consideration to deal with, for many who are  involved in this industry. As said previously, the process of extraction of suitable stones from their natural rock beds or layers is commonly called quarrying of stones.

In simple terms, a quarry is a place where different types of stones are extracted. Quarrying is part of the wider extractive industry and the natural stone, gravel and sand that comes from a quarry are known as aggregate. It’s fair to say that people don’t give much thought to the subject of aggregates, and may only know a quarry as a hole in the ground. However, it should be recognized that our current way of life would not be possible to maintain without quarries.

Considerations about Quarry Location

To start any quarry project, important decisions are to be made first. Engineers and contractors have to keep following factors into consideration while deciding about the location of a quarry site.

• Availability of sound rock is the first important point. A quarry can be opened up only where a sound rock that can yield good quality building stones exists in the considerable area.
• When quarry is opened, it should be able to supply the stones for quite a few years. The stone must be available in large quantity and must be of uniform quality.
• Quarry should not have a very far, large distance from the areas of construction. Quarrying is commonly a commercial operation. The quarry must not be located far away from the area where constructional activities are going on. In such that the quarry is located far away, the cost of transport of stone from the quarry to constructional sites may become too heavy.
• At the same time, a quarry must not be located very close to a town because quarrying operations are full of hazards. This becomes especially important when blasting method has to be used for quarrying of stones.

Other Considerations

• Distance from main roads is also to be considered. Stones extracted from a quarry have to be transported to the nearby towns and cities. Naturally, the quarry must be located near to the main network of roads leading to those towns and cities.
• Otherwise, longer approach roads will have to be constructed that will add to the cost of haulage of the Stone.
• Availability of water and dumping space is also important. In quarrying operations, considerable man power is employed. Water is an important necessity for the work force. It must be available in sufficient quantity near the quarry site.
• Similarly, quarrying operations involve a lot of breaking of different types of rocks all of which are not useful for building construction. Such waste rock or refuse has to be dumped on one or other side of the quarry, so that main quarry face is not blocked. The required dumping space should be easily available near the quarry.
• Another factor is drainage system. Ground water and surface water have to be quickly drained. It should be possible to provide adequate drainage at the quarry site.

Once a site for a quarry is decided, following preparatory steps become necessary for starting the operation:

Selection of Method for Quarrying:

At present, quarrying can be done either by manual methods or by machines. The method has to be chosen right in the beginning. The choice will depend upon the size of the quarry, the nature of the rock and the demand for building stones.

Preparation of a Layout:

In accordance with the method selected for quarrying of stones, a scheme or layout for quarrying will be prepared. This will determine from which side the natural rock bed will be extracted first. This faced is called the attack face. It also clarifies how the extraction will progress in the subsequent phases.

Removal of the Over Burden:

The surface of natural rock beds are invariably covered by some thickness of soil or lose material. Irrespective of the methods of quarrying of stones, this over-burden has to be cleared first before the actual quarrying operation could be started. Similarly, some loosely held rocks on the slopes have to be removed to avoid accidents in the later operations.

Quarry Role in Our Daily Lives

Stone is an essential component used in the construction of homes, factories, schools, hospitals and shopping centers. Therefore quarries underpin a country’s ongoing development and maintenance and play a vital role in a nation’s economy. Think about the roads and streets around you; more than 90 per cent of a road is aggregate while 80 per cent of concrete used in your home is aggregate. Yes, quarries are much, much more than holes in the ground; they play a vital part in all aspects of everyday life. Quarries are the backbone of construction and quarrying vital role is obvious these days. Just imagine life without them.

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Sources

civilseek.com/quarrying-of-stones/

https://www.quarrying.org/about-quarrying/quarrying-explained#:~:text=The%20materials%20produces%20by%20quarrying,name%20just%20a%20few%20uses.