Abstract
The use of natural stone has historical and environmental value that makes it strategically valuable for landscape conservation in Europe. Marble, among others, is widely spread on Earth, and it offers high-performance features in architectural applications. However, the complexity of these formations and the rock variability in different ore bodies require detailed studies of the natural and induced stress state, the fracturing degree, and the influence of external factor (such as temperature and/or chemical agents) on the mechanical properties in order to optimize the exploitation processes by reducing extractive waste. This article shows a series of studies conducted by the authors over the last 20 years aimed at making the exploitation of marble blocks in the Carrara basin safer, more efficient, and, therefore, more sustainable. In particular, studies for increasing our knowledge of the natural and the induced stress state through on-site measurements and numerical modeling, studies to improve the quality of the exploited material through improvements of cutting technologies, studies to improve the knowledge of the mechanical behavior of the material under varying loads and temperature conditions, and studies to improve the reuse of water materials and their reduction are reported.
Highlights
According to the Cambridge dictionary, the definition of sustainability is “the idea that goods and services should be produced in ways that do not use resources that cannot be replaced and that do not damage the environment” [1].Concerning mineral resources, the primary method of resource extraction is still excavation
According to the United Nations [2], suggestions to maximize the development benefits of mining while improving the environmental and social sustainability of the mining sector were first addressed in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), where three priority areas were identified, including addressing the environmental, economic, health. and social impacts and benefits of mining throughout their life cycle, including workers’ health and safety
The European Union has addressed research toward these areas by financing important projects in this field
Summary
According to the Cambridge dictionary, the definition of sustainability is “the idea that goods and services should be produced in ways that do not use resources that cannot be replaced and that do not damage the environment” [1]. The authors’ research and strategies to improve the mining cycle in marble exploitation and to reduce its impact are reported. Fabric-related anisotropy is a key control of rock mechanical behavior under different environmental conditions, and the interplay between the fabric of crystal deformation and its brittle mechanical behavior needs to be taken into account properly throughout laboratory testing. All these aspects require a multidisciplinary approach aimed at improving the resource efficiency and sustainability by: 1. It mainly aims to develop methodological and technological support for the mining sector covering both the theoretical and more practical aspects of natural stone exploitation. The main findings of this paper are summarized and discussed
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