Dimension Stone Research Articles

Rock Mechanical Properties and Resource Potential of Dimensional Stone and Terrazzo in Tigray, Ethiopia: A Geological and Geomechanical Assessment

Dimension stone and terrazzo are quarried rocks following specific dimensions, generally huge in tonnage than ore minerals. Dimension stone and Terrazo resource development opportunities in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia, are studied regarding their potential to make dimension and terrazzo, geology and deposit nature, physio-mechanical properties, rock petrography, and opportunity for exploitation. The granite and marble are quarried as dimension stones and they meet the quality parameters of the rocks, which include, being durable, easy to quarry, work, cut, and polish. It was conducted through the integration of new geological descriptions, interpretation of thin sections, and physico-mechanical tests. Both surface and quarry rock samples were used for the study. 15 from granite and 15 from marble deposits in total 30 samples were used for petrographic analysis and physico-mechanical tests. Based on petrographic and physicomechanical results, granite is harder than marble this may be due to silicates being less dissolved than carbonates. The accessory minerals in both granite and marble deposits limit the quality of the deposits as being impurities. The integrated results indicate that the marble and granite deposits in the area are good in quality and quantity. In addition, they are geologically widespread, technologically do not need sophisticated technology and economically they do not need huge investment and have less effect upon the environment. Diamond wire saws and diamond belt saws separated the dimension stone, which are oblate to curved in shape with 1m width. In the area, investment has been at a relatively low stage more investment will significantly increase production of the dimension stone for local usage, export, and economic growth of the region.

Development a risk assessment method for dimensional stone quarries

Over the last 20 years, the global production of dimension stones has grown rapidly. Today, seven countries—China, India, Turkey, Iran, Italy, Brazil, and Spain—account for around two-thirds of the world's output of dimension stones. Each one has annual production levels of nine to over twenty-two million tons. Mining operation in general is one of the most hazardous fields of engineering. A large amount of dimensional stone quarries require a special scheme of risk assessment. Risk Breakdown Structure is one of the major stages of risk assessment. In this paper, a detailed structure of risks of the dimension stone quarrying is formed, and divided into 17 main levels and 128 sublevels. The complexity of identifying different parameters made it requisite to use multi-attribute decision-making methods for prioritizing associated risks. As a case study, the main risks of the Ghasre Dasht marble mine are evaluated using the VIKOR method considering 10 major parameters under a Fuzzy environment. The results showed that the economic, Management, and Schedule risks are the most threatening risks of dimensional stone quarrying.

Characterization of Marble and Granite Processing Waste and its Utilization in Brick Production: Case of Saba and Semayata Dimensional Stone Companies, Tigray, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, the marble and granite dimension stone industries have been growing significantly in the last decade and have become a part of the flourishing construction industry. Accordingly, the amount of quarrying and processing has increased significantly. This has contributed to increased waste of time. Semayata and Saba Dimensional Stone plc are the leading dimension stone-based companies located in the Wukro and Adwa areas, respectively in the Tigray region are involved in producing tiles and slabs of marble and granite. Due to its processing techniques and its highly alkaline nature, marble, and granite wastes in the Adwa and Wukro areas have become causes for environmental problems. Consequently, the demand for the recycling of waste has come to the forefront due to both environmental and financial considerations. Keeping this in view, a study was conducted on the waste generated by the Saba and Semayata processing units. The study aims to characterize wastes; and discuss the possibilities of using marble and granite wastes as an alternative raw material in the production of bricks. Based on the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties, the waste can be used to produce bricks without modifying and adding other contents.

Environmental impact of the variations in solar reflectance index values of some selected dimension stones due to cyclic thermal shock

Natural stones are widely used environmentally appropriate building materials as dimension stone both for exterior cladding and floor coverings in urban areas. Depending on their solar reflectivity, these materials may absorb more solar radiation, especially with noontime summer sunlight exposure, which may cause both increasing cooling costs in commercial buildings and overheating of a city with the formation of urban heat islands. Solar reflectance index (SRI) is defined as the ability of a surface to reject solar heat which tends to change with physical, chemical and biological degradation processes by varying solar reflectance (SR) and thermal emissivity (TE) values. Weakening of the stone matrix structure by physical degradation mechanism, such as thermal shock (T-S) cycles mostly have significant impact on SRI. Within the scope of this study, SRI values were calculated before and after cyclic T-S by measuring the optical properties such as SR and TE values of 30 selected sedimentary and metamorphic originated carbonate-based natural stone types. The changes in surface properties such as color, roughness, and gloss, that may have an impact on the SRI values were also analyzed. In addition, a multivariate regression analysis was established to predict SRI value from such properties with a high degree of accuracy. Finally, it was found that, initial SRI values of 9 natural stone types (mostly metamorphic originated) have been increased considerably by cyclic T-S and tend to increase their ability to reduce urban temperatures by higher SRI values, one of the most important selection criteria in energy consumption for natural stones.

Critical Raw Materials Supply: Challenges and Potentialities to Exploit Rare Earth Elements from Siliceous Stones and Extractive Waste

Critical raw materials (CRMs) supply is a challenge that EU countries have to face, with many thinking about domestic procurement from natural ore deposits and anthropogenic deposits (landfills and extractive waste facilities). The present research focuses on the possibilities linked to the supply of CRMs and the potential for exploiting rare earth elements (REEs), investigating a large variety of extractive waste and siliceous rocks in the Piedmont region (Northern Italy). Indeed, the recovery of REEs from the extractive waste (EW) of siliceous quarries and other siliceous ore deposits can be a valuable way to reduce supply chain risks. Starting with a review of the literature on mining activities in Piedmont and continuing with the sampling and geochemical, mineralogical, petrographic, and environmental characterization of EW facilities connected to siliceous dimension stones, of kaolinitic gneiss ore deposits, and of soils present near the investigated areas, this study shows that the degree of REEs enrichment differs depending on the sampling area (soil or EW) and lithology. The concentration of REEs in the EW at some sampling sites fulfils the indicators of industrial-grade and industrial recovery; the high cumulative production and potential market values of EW and the positive recovery effects through proven methodologies indicate a viable prospect of REE recovery from EW. However, REE recovery industrialization faces challenges such as the difficulty in achieving efficient large-scale recovery due to large regional differences in REE abundance, the mismatch between potential market value and waste annual production, etc. Nonetheless, in the future, EW from dimension stone quarries could be differentially studied and reused based on the enrichment and distribution characteristics of trace elements. The present paper shows investigation procedures undertaken to determine both CRMs potentialities and environmental issues (on the basis of literature data employed to select the more-promising areas and on sampling and characterization activities in the selected areas), together with procedures to determine the waste quantities and tentative economic values of REEs present in the investigated areas. This approach, tested on a large area (Piedmont region), is replicable and applicable to other similar case studies (at EU and non-EU levels) and offers decision makers the possibility to acquire a general overview of the potential available resources in order to decide whether and where to concentrate efforts (including economic ones) in a more detailed study to evaluate the exploitable anthropogenic deposits.

Mineral Chemistry and Petrography of the Bronzite Bearing Galaxy Granite, Chimakurti Mining Area, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh

The gabbro and norite which is a part of the Chimakurti layered Complex, in the Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, is exported to other country as galaxy granite. The bronzite present within gives a metallic lustre when polished, making it an attractive dimensional stone. Present study gives a detailed chemistry of the pyroxene along with petrography.

Exploration and Exploitation of Dimension Stone in the Municipality of Livno

Exploration and Exploitation of Dimension Stone in the Municipality of Livno

Strength and permeability of concrete containing dimensional stone slurry and crushed sand

Strength and permeability of concrete containing dimensional stone slurry and crushed sand

Extraction and processing of dimension stone in Russia in the 19th century (adapted from Gornyi Zhurnal)

Extraction and processing of dimension stone in Russia in the 19th century (adapted from Gornyi Zhurnal)

Classification of geologic materials used in the Sukhothai Historical Park of Thailand using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer and petrographic analysis

The Sukhothai Historical Park, designated as a world heritage site in Thailand, encompasses the remnants of the Sukhothai Kingdom and serves as a valuable locus for geological and geoarchaeological investigations. Situated in the Sukhothai province, the region is characterized by diverse lithologies, including slate, phyllite, and laterite, as well as red bricks (synthetic materials), utilized in the construction of various ancient structures. Petrographic analysis using polarized light microscopy reveals the phyllites as the primary dimension stones, exhibiting foliated and mylonitic textures with small quartz augen. A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer was employed for geochemical analysis and the analysis of major oxides and trace elements. The resulting data facilitated the classification of protoliths and comparison with rocks from an abandoned quarry near Saritphong Dam in the western part of the historical park. Notably, phyllites utilized in several prominent structures within the park; Wat Saphan Hin, Wat Pa Daeng 2, Wat Thap Sakae, Wat Chetuphon, Wat Sri Chum, and Wat Mangkorn Temples, exhibited similar characteristics to those in the Wat Khao Noi old quarry, as confirmed by Rubidium (Rb) and Strontium (Sr) values. The SiO2/Al2O3 and FeO/K2O ratios were pivotal in identifying the protoliths of the studied phyllites as shales. In summary, the primary dimension stones for Sukhothai Historical Park originated from the western mountain within the park, with laterites sourced from foothill areas. The presence of quartz pebbles in red bricks suggests local sediment utilization, and quartz additions were employed to enhance structural strength. This comprehensive geoarchaeological study sheds light on the geological composition of the Sukhothai Historical Park, providing valuable insights into the selection and utilization of construction materials in this historically significant site.

Managing Marble Quarry Waste: Opportunities and Challenges for Circular Economy Implementation

Marble has been a prominent natural stone exploited since ancient times, commonly employed as a building material and ornamental stone. However, the disposal of waste generated from marble extraction, particularly fine sludge, poses significant environmental challenges for the dimensional stone industry. The difficulty in managing and recovering these materials, exacerbated by local regulations and the absence of suitable recovery protocols, often leads to landfilling. This issue is exemplified by the Carrara Marble Basin in the Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy), where more than half of the extracted marble remains as quarry waste or debris. Modern cutting technologies have intensified the production of finer materials and sawing residue, known as “marmettola”, ranging in size from fine sand to silt. The disposal of these materials, commonly through landfilling or abandonment, has profound environmental repercussions. This research primarily aimed to carry out a preliminary physical, mineralogical, and morphological characterization of the fine waste and sludges generated from Carrara Marble exploitation. The findings reveal the high granulometric uniformity of the materials, and a nearly pure carbonate composition, suggesting potential for reuse in various industrial sectors such as paper, plastics, and pharmaceuticals production.

The Natural Stone Market in the Context of Rapid Construction Development and Protection Areas of Major Groundwater Reservoirs (GZWP)

Over the last few years, the demand for stone raw materials has increased significantly. The stone industry is an unusual sector that combines domestic stone extraction with the global market. The stone market supported by the achievements of new technologies provides a processed product, which in consequence create great potential for development of this sector. What is more an intensification of the demand effect on raw stones can be initiated by the construction industry, which is one of the basic drivers of the country's economy. In this paper there are presented conclusions from an analysis of the local and global stone market. What is more, authors present the results of analysis the mining potential of dimension and crushed stones deposits occurring in Poland in the context of limited exploitation possibilities due to selected protection areas such as areas of Major Groundwater Reservoirs (hereinafter: GZWP).

Syenites

Syenites are felsic plutonic igneous rocks characterized by the lack of quartz (<5 percent) or feldspathoids (<10 percent), although quartz syenites have 5–20 percent quartz. Typically they consist of feldspars, predominantly alkali feldspar with minor ferromagnesian minerals, usually pyroxene, amphibole or biotite. Syenites are overwhelmingly rocks of extensional environments and generally occur in areas of continental rifting, such as the African Rift Valley, and also on oceanic islands, such as the Canary archipelago. The extrusive equivalent of syenite is trachyte. As examples, we will look at two plutonic complexes containing syenites: the little‐known Kangerlussuaq intrusion in East Greenland and the more familiar Larvik Plutonic Complex in the Oslo region of Norway. Syenites occur in association with both oversaturated (quartz syenites and granites) and foid‐bearing rocks (typically nepheline syenites). Agpaitic syenites are highly evolved types with titano‐zircono‐silicates such as eudialyte. Syenites find use as dimension stones and countertops.

Determination of the seismic effect of a mass explosion on the earthquake resistance of ledges of block products

The publication examines the impact of seismic waves from the mass detonation of the gravel section of the quarry on solid areas suitable for extracting dimension stone in the conditions of the Leznikivsky quarry (Ukraine). Seismic measurements in the quarry were analyzed. Based on the obtained data, seismic-safe zones for mass detonations of gravel sections were identified, and the maximum allowable charges of explosive materials in a single borehole were calculated.

Economic feasibility of Gabal Um Takha leucogranitic intrusion, South Sinai, Egypt: Integrated remote sensing, geochemical, aeromagnetic, and geotechnical approach

Variable granitic rocks are widely used as decorative stones. The present work conducted accurate mapping and the utilization of a large leucogranitic intrusion (Um Takha area) as a decorative stones through physico-mechanical tests, mineralogical and geochemical compositions. These leucogranites are medium-grained, classified as syenogranites, peraluminous, calc-alkaline, and highly evolved granites developed during the post-collisional setting. This study utilized various remote sensing techniques to identify the Um Takha leucogranitic using ASTER and Landsat-9 data. A novel FCC band ratio of the ASTER image (RGB: b1+b3/b2, b2/b1, b7+b9/b8) was created, along with the Landsat-9 FCC band ratio of (4/7, 3/4, and 2/1) in the RGB, to effectively map the distribution of in the study area. These results, combined with field observation, led to the creation of a new modified geological map of the Um Takha area. The analysis of magnetic data reveals that the depth of magnetic sources under the study area ranges between 170 m and 2215 m, as calculated by source parameter image and Euler deconvolution techniques. The application of horizontal gradient, tilt derivatives and improved logistic techniques reveals that the major structural trend affecting the study area is in the N–S, NNE-SSW and NNW-SSE direction. The physico-mechanical properties of leucogranitic rocks (M13) fulfilled the requirements of dimension stone in terms of bulk density, compressive strength, and to some extent water absorption. Therefore, they could be acceptable for interior use and the light-duty purposes of exterior use, such as facades and cladding. This suggest that a large resources of leucogranitic can be used as a decorative stones.

Cost modelling for dimension stone quarry operations

Dimension stone mining is Increasing because of growing demand from the building and construction industries. Diamond wire saw cutting is a popular dimension stone mining technique around the world. Estimation of the production cost for this method is critical for these operations. In this research a production cost model was developed for the mining of granite using a diamond wire saw. Cost and production data were collected from a granitic dolerite operation in Pakistan for a 4.5-year period, and analysed to identify the cost components. Fuel (34%), labour (15%), consumables (40%), and maintenance (5%) were found to be the four major cost components in this operation. A regression-based dimension stone production cost model incorporating statistically significant variables was developed. The data presented a strong correlation of production cost with fuel, labour, and consumables costs. Finally, a production cost model based on the consumption cost of diamond wire is presented. The model was verified using actual production cost data, which indicated 95% (R2 = 0.95) variance in the data between the predicted and actual production cost values. The model may help field engineers in computing their dimension stone operational cost during the cutting phase.

Geochemical evaluation of dolostone deposits in Montenegro: Implications for potential industrial applications

Dolomite is a valuable mineral commodity with numerous industrial applications. Dolostones are mineral resources with significant growth potential. The study area encompasses south and central Montenegro. Mineralogical, petrographic, geochemical, and technological properties were investigated. Upper Cretaceous dolostones are compact and contain organic matter, whereas Triassic dolostones are weathered dolomites without organic matter. Both of formations displayed varying dolostone quality, prompting the geological and technological classification of Montenegrin dolostones. Upper Cretaceous dolostones are utilized in the building industry as aggregate, dimension stone, and filler, whereas Triassic dolomites are not suitable as dimension stone and have limited potential as aggregate. Both dolostones can be utilized in the steel industry and agriculture, but not as high-quality fillers when whiteness is a limitation, or for lime production where chemical composition and grain size are regulated. This is the first comprehensive study of geochemical evaluations of dolostone deposits in the Balkans and their potential industrial use.

GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND PRODUCTION PLANNING BY IDENTIFICATION OF THE DISCONTINUITIES AND ROCK MASS BLOCKS IN DIMENSION STONE QUARRIES: A CASE STUDY

The dimension stone industry faces a significant environmental challenge due to the large amount of waste produced during the production process. About 51.3% of the materials extracted from dimension stone quarries worldwide end up as quarry waste. The presence of discontinuities and fractures primarily causes this waste. However, by examining the characteristics of these discontinuities and fractures and identifying in-situ blocks of the rock mass, it is possible to reduce the amount of waste produced during dimension stone quarrying. This study focuses on an abandoned quarry bench of the Lashotor quarries complex in the Isfahan Province, Iran. Due to high waste production, the quarry bench was left unused. The study aimed to identify the in-situ blocks of the quarry bench by examining the characteristics of the rock mass’s discontinuities and fractures. The authors used a modified algorithm to identify and grade all the quarry bench blocks based on the target market. The study revealed that some blocks in the abandoned quarry bench could be supplied to the target market, and the bench has the potential for block extraction. The algorithm’s modification based on the shape factor of blocks is an important innovation that increases the accuracy of block determination compared to previous methods. Overall, this algorithm can be used as a decision-making tool in extracting or not extracting the quarry bench of dimension stone quarries and implementing an optimal cutting pattern to reduce waste production.

Réselő adapter rezgéstani vizsgálata kőzetvágás során

This paper deals with a dimensional rock sawing machine to optimize the production of small-volume dimension stone products in limestone. After cutting around the block stone, the rock material can be moved with the help of the machine. The finite element (FE) analysis of the adapter with simplified geometry treated as a solid model is to investigate the natural frequen-cies of the adapter to identify any potentially dan-gerous frequencies. In this study, the eigenvalue extraction used to calculate the natural frequen-cies is based on the Lanczos iteration methods. The natural frequencies of the concept design, es-timated by FE-modal analysis, provide an oppor-tunity to give sufficient stability against the low frequencies associated with the normal operating speed of the cutting at the final version.

INFLUÊNCIA DO PROCEDIMENTO DE AJUSTE GRANULOMÉTRICO DE AMOSTRAS DE CERÂMICA VERMELHA AGREGADA COM RESÍDUOS DE ROCHAS ORNAMENTAIS PARA CLASSIFICAÇÃO CONFORME CRITÉRIOS DA ABNT

INFLUENCE OF THE PROCEDURE FOR GRANULOMETRIC SAMPLE ADJUSTMENT OF RED CERAMIC AGGREGATED WITH DIMENSION STONE WASTES FOR CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO THE ABNT CRITERIA’S. In order to clarify questions about the granulometric preparation of samples for the classification of solid wastes according to the Brazilian technical standard (NBR 10004/04), solubilization tests were carried out on red ceramic specimens made with conventional clay aggregated with ornamental rock residues. Samples were prepared by fragmentation and milling to verify the effects on metals releasing to the extractor medium. The specimens were made with 80% clay, 20% residue and 10% (m/m) moisture and sintered at 1000 °C. The data show that ceramics made with conventional clay, when discarded, will produce non inert wastes, as well as the ceramics made with dimension stone wastes added to the conventional raw material, according to the granulometry of its particles. After all, the metals concentration in the solubilization test are influenced by the sample granulometry. This paper shows that the method of granulometric adjustment should be detailed in the technical standard for solubilization tests (NBR 10006/04), in order to ensure the reliability of the method for classification of solid wastes.