Quarry: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|A place from which a geological material has been excavated from the ground}} |
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{{distinguish-otheruses2|Query (disambiguation){{!}}Query|Quarry}} |
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{{Refimprove|date=July 2007}} |
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[[File:Carrara-panorama_delle_cave4.jpg|thumb|[[Carrara marble|Carrara quarry]] in [[Tuscany]], [[Italy]]]] |
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[[File:PortlandQuarry.jpg|thumb|[[Portland stone]] quarry on the [[Isle of Portland]], England]] |
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[[File:Stone quarry adelaide.JPG|thumb|An abandoned [[construction aggregate]] quarry near [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]]]] |
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[[File:Stone_Quarry_Kerala.JPG|thumb|right|An abandoned stone quarry in [[Kerala]], [[India]] with a pond in it]] |
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[[Image:0 Carrières du Hainaut à Soignies (2).JPG|thumb|Stone quarry in [[Soignies]], [[Hainaut (province)]], Belgium]] |
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[[File:Cava Matera Inerti.png|thumb|[[Matera]] quarry in [[Basilicata]], [[Italy]]]] |
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A '''quarry''' is a type of [[open-pit mining|open-pit mine]] in which [[dimension stone]], [[rock (geology)|rock]], [[construction aggregate]], [[riprap]], [[sand]], [[gravel]], or [[slate]] is excavated from the ground. |
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The word ''quarry'' can also include the underground quarrying for stone, such as [[Bath stone]]. |
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==Types of rock== |
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Types of rock extracted from quarries include: |
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*[[Chalk]] |
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*[[China clay]] |
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*[[Cinder]] |
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*[[Clay]] |
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*[[Coal]] |
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*[[Construction aggregate]] ([[sand]] and [[gravel]]) |
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*[[Coquina]] |
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*[[Diabase]] |
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*[[Gabbro]] |
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*[[Granite]] |
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*[[Gritstone]] |
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*[[Gypsum]] |
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*[[Limestone]] |
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*[[Marble]] |
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*[[Ore]]s |
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*[[Phosphate rock]] |
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*[[Sandstone]] |
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*[[Slate]] |
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==Slabs== |
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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. |
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==Problems== |
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[[File:Carrara_12.JPG|thumb|Extraction work in a marble quarry in [[Carrara]], [[Italy]]]] |
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Quarries in level areas with shallow [[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. Ground water 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. |
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Many people and municipalities consider quarries to be eyesores and require various abatement methods to address problems with noise, dust, and appearance. One of the more effective and famous examples of successful quarry restoration is [[Butchart Gardens]] in Victoria, BC, Canada. |
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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. |
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===Quarry lakes=== |
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{{main|Quarry lake}} |
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Many quarries naturally fill with water after abandonment and become [[lake]]s. Others are made into [[landfill]]s. |
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Water-filled quarries can be very deep with water, often 50 feet or more, that is often surprisingly cold. 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 |date= |accessdate=2012-05-14}}</ref> Though quarry water is often very clear, submerged quarry stones and abandoned equipment 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 |date= |accessdate=2012-05-14}}</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 |accessdate=2012-05-14}}</ref> However, many inactive quarries are converted into safe swimming sites. |
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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}}</ref> |
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{{Wide image|Rummu karjäär1.jpg|600px|An abandoned limestone quarry in Rummu, Estonia.}} |
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==See also== |
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{{Portal|Mining}} |
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*[[Clay pit]] |
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*[[Coal mining]] |
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*[[Collecting fossils]] |
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*[[Gravel pit]] |
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*[[List of minerals]] |
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*[[List of rock types]] |
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*[[List of stone]]s |
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*[[Miner]] |
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*[[Mountaintop removal mining]] |
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*[[Opencast mining]] |
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*[[Quarry lake]] |
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*[[Quarries (biblical)]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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{{commons category|Quarries}} |
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{{wiktionarypar}} |
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{{Mining techniques}} |
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{{Stonemasonry}} |
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[[Category:Environmental impact of mining]] |
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[[Category:Quarries| ]] |
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[[Category:Surface mining]] |
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Revision as of 15:49, 16 October 2018
Template:Distinguish-otheruses2
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2007) |
.JPG)
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground.
The word quarry can also include the underground quarrying for stone, such as Bath stone.
Types of rock
Types of rock extracted from quarries include:
- Chalk
- China clay
- Cinder
- Clay
- Coal
- Construction aggregate (sand and gravel)
- Coquina
- Diabase
- Gabbro
- Granite
- Gritstone
- Gypsum
- Limestone
- Marble
- Ores
- Phosphate rock
- Sandstone
- Slate
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 luster. Polished slabs are often cut into tiles or countertops 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
Quarries in level areas with shallow 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 60 feet (18 m) below sea level. To reduce surface leakage, a moat lined with clay was constructed around the entire quarry. Ground water 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. One of the more effective and famous examples of successful quarry restoration is Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC, Canada.
A further problem is pollution of roads from trucks leaving the quarries. To control and restrain the pollution of public roads, wheel washing systems are becoming more common.
Quarry lakes
Many quarries naturally fill with water after abandonment and become lakes. Others are made into landfills.
Water-filled quarries can be very deep with water, often 50 feet or more, that is often surprisingly cold. Unexpectedly cold water can cause a swimmer's muscles to suddenly weaken; it can also cause shock and even hypothermia.[1] Though quarry water is often very clear, submerged quarry stones and abandoned equipment make diving into these quarries extremely dangerous. Several people drown in quarries each year.[2][3] However, many inactive quarries are converted into safe swimming sites.
Such lakes, even lakes within active quarries, can provide important habitat for animals.[4]
See also
- Clay pit
- Coal mining
- Collecting fossils
- Gravel pit
- List of minerals
- List of rock types
- List of stones
- Miner
- Mountaintop removal mining
- Opencast mining
- Quarry lake
- Quarries (biblical)
References
- ^ "American Canoe Association explanation of cold shock". Enter.net. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ^ "US Dept. of Labor list of mine related fatalities". Msha.gov. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ^ "on quarry drownings". Geology.com. 2007-11-03. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ^ Sievers, Michael (19 May 2017). "Sand quarry wetlands provide high-quality habitat for native amphibians". Web Ecology. 17 (1): 19–27. doi:10.5194/we-17-19-2017.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
External links
