Quarry

{{Short description|Place where geological material has been excavated}} {{Other uses|Quarry (disambiguation)}} {{Distinguish|Query (disambiguation){{!}}Query}} {{More citations needed|date=July 2007}} [[File:Carrara-panorama_delle_cave4.jpg|thumb|[[Carrara marble|A quarry at Carrara]] in [[Tuscany]], Italy]] [[File:PortlandQuarry.jpg|thumb|A [[Portland stone]] quarry on the [[Isle of Portland]], England]] [[File:Stone quarry adelaide.JPG|thumb|An abandoned [[construction aggregate]] quarry near [[Adelaide]], South Australia]] [[File:Sulfureuse virée.jpg|thumb|An abandoned [[construction aggregate]] quarry with [[Turquoise_(color)|turquoise]] pond near [[Thouars]], France]] [[File:Stone_Quarry_Kerala.JPG|thumb|right|An abandoned stone quarry in [[Kerala]], India]] [[Image:0 Carrières du Hainaut à Soignies (2).JPG|thumb|Stone quarry in [[Soignies]], [[Hainaut (province)]], Belgium]] [[File:Cava Matera Inerti.png|thumb|[[Matera]] quarry in [[Basilicata]], Italy]] [[File:Hagen, Steinbruch Donnerkuhle (3).jpg|thumb|Donnerkuhle Quarry, near Hagen, Germany]] [[File:Prospect Quarry.jpg|thumb|[[Prospect Hill (New South Wales)|Prospect Quarry gap]] in [[Sydney]], Australia]] A '''quarry''' is a place where rock and earth materials—like limestone, granite, marble, sand, and gravel—are excavated. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to manage their safety risks and reduce their environmental impact.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Quarrying English View|url=https://www.epiroc.com/en-us/applications/construction/quarrying-and-surface-construction/quarrying|access-date=2026-02-06|website=epiroc.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=US EPA|first=OW|date=2014-03-10|title=Mineral Mining and Processing Effluent Guidelines|url=https://www.epa.gov/eg/mineral-mining-and-processing-effluent-guidelines|access-date=2020-06-30|website=US EPA|language=en}}</ref>

==History== Stone industry is one of the oldest in the world. Creation of [[stone tool]]s ([[microlith]]s industry) in the region of South Africa has been dated to about 60,000–70,000 years ago.<ref name="AndreaMcGeough2011">{{cite book|author1=[[Alfred J. Andrea]]|author2=Kevin McGeough|author3=William E. Mierse |author4=Mark Aldenderfer |author5=Carolyn Neel |title=World History Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=saMDq9eARUcC&pg=PA145|date=28 February 2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-929-0|page=145}}</ref> Granite and marble mining has existed as far back as [[ancient Egypt]].<ref name="Nemerow2009">{{cite book|author=Nelson L. Nemerow|title=Environmental Engineering: Environmental Health and Safety for Municipal Infrastructure, Land Use and Planning, and Industry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VO-Unp1sFAMC&pg=PA40|date=27 January 2009|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-08305-5|page=40}}</ref> Crushed stone was used extensively by the first great road building civilizations, such as [[ancient Greece]] and [[ancient Rome]].<ref name="Jr1995">{{cite book|author=John J. McKetta Jr|title=Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design: Volume 54 – Steam Reforming: Operating Experience to Storage Tank Explosion Safeguards|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YXsPHcd7tXwC&pg=PA281|date=14 November 1995|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-0-8247-2605-8|page=281}}</ref>

In the eighteenth century, the use of drilling and blasting operations was mastered.<ref>Raymond Perrier: Les roches ornementales. Ternay (Edition Pro Roc) 2004, {{ISBN|2-9508992-6-9}}, p. 443–447.</ref>

==Stone industry== '''Stone industry''' refers to the part of the [[primary sector of the economy]], similar to the [[mining industry]], but concerned with excavations of [[stone]]s, in particular [[granite]], [[marble]], [[slate]] and [[sandstone]]. Other products of the industry include [[crushed stone]] and [[dimension stone]].

==Types of rock== Types of rock extracted from quarries include: *[[Chalk]] *Chert *[[China clay]] *[[Scoria|Cinder]] *[[Clay]] *[[Coal]] *[[Construction aggregate]] ([[sand]] and [[gravel]]) *[[Coquina]] *[[Diabase]] *Flint *[[Gabbro]] *[[Granite]] *[[Gritstone]] *[[Gypsum]] *[[Limestone]] *[[Marble]] *[[Ore]]s *[[Phosphate rock]] *[[Quartz]] *[[Sandstone]] *[[Slate]] *[[Travertine]]

[[File:Dimension Stone QuarryUSGOV.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Marmo z08.JPG|thumb]]

==Methods of quarrying== {{See also|Surface mining}} The method of removal of stones from their natural bed by using different operations is called quarrying. Methods of quarrying include: *[[Digging]] – This method is used when the quarry consists of small and soft pieces of stones. *Heating – This method is used when the natural rock bed is horizontal and small in thickness. *Wedging – This method is used when the hard rock consists of natural fissure. When natural fissures are absent then artificial fissures are prepared by drilling holes. *[[Drilling and blasting|Blasting]] – It is the process of removing stone using controlled explosives placed in drilled holes. Line of least resistance plays a very important role in the blasting process.

The following steps are used in the blasting process: *[[Drilling]] holes – Blast holes are drilled by using drilling machines. *Charging – Explosive powders are fed into the cleaned & dried blast holes. *[[Tamping]] – The remaining portion of the blast holes are filled by clay, ash, fuse and wirings. *Firing – The fuses of blasting holes are fired by using electrical power supply or match sticks.

==Slabs== Many quarry stones such as [[marble]], [[granite]], [[limestone]], and [[sandstone]] are cut into larger slabs and removed from the quarry. The surfaces are polished and finished with varying degrees of sheen or [[lustre (mineralogy)|luster]]. Polished slabs are often cut into [[tile]]s or [[countertop]]s and installed in many kinds of residential and commercial properties. Natural stone quarried from the earth is often considered a luxury and tends to be a highly durable surface, thus highly desirable.

==Problems== [[File:Carrara_12.JPG|thumb|Extraction work in a marble quarry in [[Carrara]], Italy]] Quarries in level areas that are located in flat terrain or in places where groundwater sits close to the surface often face significant drainage challenges [[groundwater]] or which are located close to surface water often have [[engineering]] problems with [[drainage]]. Generally the water is removed by pumping while the quarry is operational, but for high inflows more complex approaches may be required. For example, the [[Coquina quarry]] is excavated to more than {{Convert|60|ft}} below sea level.

To reduce surface leakage, a [[moat]] lined with [[clay]] was constructed around the entire quarry. [[Groundwater]] entering the pit is pumped up into the moat. As a quarry becomes deeper, water inflows generally increase and it also becomes more expensive to lift the water higher during removal; this can become the limiting factor in quarry depth. Some water-filled quarries are worked from beneath the water, by dredging.

Many people and municipalities consider quarries to be eyesores and require various abatement methods to address problems with noise, dust, and appearance. A well-known effective and famous example of successful quarry restoration is [[Butchart Gardens]] in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/transportation-infrastructure/contracting-with-the-province/documents/archive-unoffical-tender-documents-90-days/12626-0002/t3-5-reclamation-and-environmental-protection-handbook-1995.pdf|title=BCMEMPR, BCMTH, and NRC. (1995). Reclamation and Environmental Protection Handbook for Sand, Gravel and Quarry Operations in British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources Ministry of Transportation and Highways Natural Resources Canada.|access-date=2020-11-03|archive-date=2022-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121233451/https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/transportation-infrastructure/contracting-with-the-province/documents/archive-unoffical-tender-documents-90-days/12626-0002/t3-5-reclamation-and-environmental-protection-handbook-1995.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A further problem is pollution of roads from trucks leaving the quarries. To control and restrain the pollution of public roads, [[wheel washing system]]s are becoming more common.

===Quarry lakes=== {{main|Quarry lake}} Many quarries naturally fill with water after abandonment and become [[lake]]s. Others are made into [[landfill]]s.

Water-filled quarries can be very deep, often {{cvt|50|ft||}} or more, and surprisingly cold, so swimming in quarry lakes is generally not recommended. Unexpectedly cold water can cause a swimmer's muscles to suddenly weaken; it can also cause [[Shock (circulatory)|shock]] and even [[hypothermia]].<ref name=ACA>{{cite web |url=http://www.enter.net/~skimmer/coldwater.html |title=American Canoe Association explanation of cold shock |publisher=Enter.net |access-date=2012-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616161846/http://www.enter.net/~skimmer/coldwater.html |archive-date=2012-06-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Though quarry water is often very clear, submerged quarry stones, abandoned equipment, dead animals and strong currents make diving into these quarries extremely dangerous. Several people drown in quarries each year.<ref name=USDoL>{{cite web |url=http://www.msha.gov/SOSA/previousfatalstats.asp |title=US Dept. of Labor list of mine related fatalities |publisher=Msha.gov |access-date=2012-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309155406/http://www.msha.gov/SOSA/previousfatalstats.asp |archive-date=2012-03-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=GEO>{{cite web|url=http://geology.com/articles/abandoned-mines.shtml |title=on quarry drownings |publisher=Geology.com |date=2007-11-03 |access-date=2012-05-14}}</ref> However, many inactive quarries are converted into safe swimming sites.<ref>{{cite web |title=Centennial Beach - History |url=http://www.centennialbeach.org/history |website=www.centennialbeach.org |access-date=8 April 2020 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409092922/http://www.centennialbeach.org/history |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=City of Coral Gables - Venetian Pool |url=https://www.coralgables.com/departments/CommunityRecreation/venetian-pool |website=www.coralgables.com |access-date=8 April 2020 |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628055200/https://www.coralgables.com/departments/CommunityRecreation/venetian-pool |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Such lakes, even lakes within active quarries, can provide important habitat for animals.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sievers |first1=Michael |title=Sand quarry wetlands provide high-quality habitat for native amphibians |journal=Web Ecology |date=19 May 2017 |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=19–27 |doi=10.5194/we-17-19-2017|bibcode=2017WEco...17...19S |doi-access=free |hdl=10072/411143 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> {{Wide image|Rummu karjäär1.jpg|600px|An abandoned limestone quarry in Rummu, Estonia}}

==See also== {{div col|colwidth=}} * [[Automated mining]] * [[Building material#Stone or rock|Building material]] * [[Clay pit]] * [[Coal mining]] * [[Collecting fossils]] * [[Dry stone]] * [[Fair Stone standard]] * [[Gravel pit]] * [[List of minerals]] * [[List of quarries]] * [[List of quarries in the United States]] * [[List of rock types]] * [[List of stone]]s * [[Miner]] * [[Mining]] * [[Mountaintop removal mining]] * [[Opencast mining]] * [[Quarries (biblical)]] * [[Quarry lake]] {{div col end}}

==References== {{Reflist}} S.K Duggal "Building Materials" (2003) 3rd revised edition [https://www.atlasobscura.com/categories/quarries Quarries]

==External links== *[http://www.stoneworld.com/articles/83006-world-stone-industry-data The state of the world stone industry, 2004], Stone World *[http://www.marble-institute.com/data/ Stone Industry Statistical Data (US)] *[http://www.stoneworld.com/stats World statistical data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228182508/http://www.stoneworld.com/stats |date=2016-12-28 }}

[[Category:Environmental impact of mining]] [[Category:Quarries| ]] [[Category:Surface mining]]