Quarry

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Production of blocks

Quarry

Quarry

A stone quarry generally produces blocks as large in size as the handling equipment and transportation means allow. Once extracted, the blocks are trucked to specialized workshops for sawing and processing.  Extraction is usually done in open-air quarries, in fields or against a hillside after reconnaissance work is conducted: the beds of stone are situated below ground at depths varying from 2-3 metres to 20 -30 metres. Subterranean extractions from caves are rare.

 


Equipment

 

Compressed air perforators and wagon drill: pneumatic or power hammers, equipped with bits using tungsten carbide discs for 30-40 mm diameter holes.

 


Explosives :

In certain cases explosives are used to disengage a block from a mass of stone. They are composed of black powder, a fuse and nitro fuel...


Diamond segment sawing:

Diamond segment sawing:

Diamond segment sawing:

This process requires a cable comprising 2 or 3 steel strands with alternating torsion, set with diamonds. The cable of varying length revolves by means of electricity around a system of expulsion pulleys to cut through the mass of stone.

 


Chain coal cutting hewer

Chain coal cutting hewer

Chain coal cutting hewer:

This electric machine is equipped with an arm that pivots around an axis. A tungsten carbide or diamond tipped chain fitted on the arm will saw vertically or horizontally through the stone bed. The arm can reach as high as 5 metres.


Handling stone blocks:


The handling of stone blocks that can weigh up to 15 -16 tons is generally done with the aid of trolley lifts, cranes and derricks... The blocks are then transported by trailor trucks and delivered to processing factories.