Rocks are mined for many different uses.
As opposed to underground mines, a rock quarry is an open air mine where various types of rocks are extracted from the earth for a variety of purposes. Rock quarrying has been around since the dawn of civilization and many different techniques exist for extracting the actual raw material. In different time periods and locations, rock quarrying utilized very specific techniques and procedures.
Egyptian Rock Quarry Techniques
Throughout most of Egyptian dynastic history, which is when much of the major construction of the time took place, granite was the prime building material. Granite is a hard rock that was mined directly from the bedrock in locations close to Egypt's largest monuments. Ancient Egyptian stoneworkers actually cut trenches all the way around the blocks of granite that they wished to extract, isolating it from the bedrock. The rock was then broken free from the bedrock with massive wooden levers.
Roman Rock Quarry Techniques
Using primarily slave labor, the ancient Romans mined rock on a massive scale to build the many edifices and monuments that dotted the empire. Romans mined a variety of different stone, including fine marble, which was used for art pieces like sculptures and in royal architecture. The Romans used quarry hammers to isolate the blocks they wanted and then used metal wedges to pry them free of the bedrock.
Early American Rock Quarry Techniques
In early colonial New England, a wide variety of rock was quarried for the massive construction that swept the land. Rocks, like slate, were mined by teams of workers, who used gunpowder to blast the rock off of the wall in chunks or sheets. Miners used horn calls to signal when an explosion was going to take place and wore copper soled shoes to lessen the chance of striking a spark.
Modern Rock Quarry Techniques
Most modern rock quarries strip the soil or mountain side to get to the hard rock underneath. The hard rock is then broken off in a "bench" pattern, meaning it is broken off in layers that can be returned to year after year for more quarrying. With each subsequent bench, the mine becomes deeper in the center, with stepped benches reaching up to the surface. Many modern rock quarries also make aggregates, or small pieces of rock that are used in a variety of construction projects, by crushing large rocks into small pieces.
Related posts
A mineral is an inorganic, crystalline solid with a specific chemical formula and crystal pattern. A rock is made up of one or more minerals. Types of rock, such as granite, have certain minerals...
Landscaping takes something that appears in nature and mimics it in one's garden. This is often achieved by planting trees and smoothing the earth. Some yards have equipment, and some look boring...
Mining Techniques for Diamonds in AfricaDiamonds are mined (extracted) within areas of Africa using several mining techniques. Three variables need to be considered to determine the best technique...
Rock carving has been part of different cultures around the world.Carving into rock used to be a way for people to communicate with each other, tell stories and maintain history. Now rock carving...
A large quartz crystalQuartz and rock crystal are both abundant minerals found throughout the world in the Earth's crust. According to Mindat.org, "Quartz is the most common mineral found on...
