Building stones quarrying

D. Naresh Kumar
Assistant Professor
St. Martin’s Engineering College

 The process of extracting or taking out
stones from natural rocks bed is known as
Quarrying of Stones. The term ‘Quarry’ is
used to indicate the exposed surface of the
natural rock. The place or site from where
stones are taken out is called ‘Quarry Site’.
 The terms mine refers to the places where
we extract minerals resources like coal,
stones,

 The method used for quarrying of stones
depends upon on the types of stones its
intended use and the type of its geological
formation.
 For Example, when the rock formation
consists of horizontal layers at shallow
depth, we may be able to easily quarry them
in layers. In other Words, If the stone is one
whole crystalline mass, we have may ballast
them with explosives. The method to be used
for regular building blocks will be different
from that used to produce stone ballast.

1. Quarrying with hand tools
2. Quarrying by use of channeling machines
3. Quarrying by ballast

 The process of taking out stones from the
natural rock is known as “quarrying” stones
thus obtained are used for various
engineering purposes.
 Before discussing the methods of quarrying,
let us discuss the natural bed and plane of
cleavage, which ply an important role in
quarrying operation.


 The building stones are obtained from rocks.
These rocks have a distinct plane of division
along which the stones can be easily split-up.
This plane is known as a “natural bed of
stone.”
 In stone masonry, the general rule to be
observed is the direction of the natural bed
should be perpendicular to the direction of
the pressure, such an arrangement of stones
gives maximum strength of stonework.

 Natural beds of stone can be detected
by pouring water and observing its fall in the
direction of layers. Which respect to natural
beds, stones for different work are placed in
different situations as follows.
 In stone arches, the stones are placed with their
natural beds in a radial manner.
 Stone in case of cornices, string courses,
etc.Should be placed in the vertical direction of
natural beds.
 Stones of buildings walls should be placed
horizontally in the direction of their natural
beds.

 Some rocks possess planes of stratification or
cleavage. The rocks can be easily split along
these planes.
 All sedimentary rocks have a distinct layer of
stratification or cleavage. They are called
stratified rocks.

 Explosive is adopted in this method of
quarrying to convert rocks into small pieces.
 This method is used when hand rocks having
no fissures or cracks are to be broken down
into small pieces.
 Stone obtained by blasting is usually of small
size, and they are used as ballast in
railway, aggregate for concrete road metal.
Etc.
 The following tools are required in the
process of blasting. Dipper, Jumper, Priming
needle, Scraping spoon, and Tamping bar.

 A detonator is in the form of a copper cylinder,
closed at one end. It contains 6 to 9 gm of
culminating of mercury. It is used when dynamite
is used as an explosive and is fired either by a
fuse an electric spark.
 Explosive adopted and are generally blasting
powder and dynamite. Blasting powder is also
known as gun powder. It is a mechanical mixture
of charcoal, saltpeter, and sulfur.
 Dynamite consists of 25% of sandy
earth saturated with 75% of nitroglycerine. It is
in the form of a thick paste.
 Fuses are required to ignite the explosives. They
are in the form of cotton rope with a core of
continuous thread of fine gun powder.

 Available of tools, materials, and labour.
 Transportation facilities.
 Geological data.
 Quality of stone
 Quantity of stone
 The clean water source should be available near
the quarry site.
 The site should be far from permanent structures
like bridges, dams, etc. because the vibrations due
to blasting in the site may cause harm to them.
 The non-living area should be available to dump
the refuse obtained in quarrying.
 A proper drainage facility should be available.
 Geological information on the site should be read.

 In contemplating the use of stone for various
engineering works, the selection of the
nature and quality of stone is governed by
the purpose in view, cost of stone, its
ornamental value and durability Suitability
various types of stones for different purposes
and situation is briefly discussed below

 a. For face work, in general marble, granite
and close-grained sand stone are used in the
form of thin slabs (veneers) where the
structure subjected to adverse weather
effects.
 b. For pillars, balustrade, pedestals, columns
statues and door and window sill and paving
stone, granite marble and

 compact lime stone can be recommend because they can
take good polish.
 c. For ornamental works such as moulding and carvings,
finegrained sand stone, fine grained marble and fine grained
granite are used.
 d. For bridges, piers, docks, break-waters and other marine
structures the stone should be very hard, heavy, strong and
durable granite and gneiss are recommended for this
purpose
 e. For road metal, stones should be hard, tough, resistant to
abrasion and durable. Basalt and course-grained granite are
generally recommended for this purpose.
 f. For railway ballast, the stone should be hard, dense,
durable, tough and easily workable sandstone, compact
lime stone, trap and quartzite are commonly used
 g. In situation like steps, doors sills, pavings etc where
there is a regular flow of traffic, stone should be hard,
dense, easily workable and durable. Marble, slates and sand
stones are commonly use in such places.
 h. In fire proof construction, compact sand stone should
always be prefferred.

 The following are the qualities or requirements
of a good building stone.
 1. Crushing strength: For a good building stone,
the crushing strength should be greater than
l000kg per cm2 .
 2. Appearance: Good building stone should be a
uniform colour, and free from clay holes, spots
of other colour bands etc capable of preserving
the colour for longtime.
 3. Durability: A good building stone should be
durable. The factors like heat and cold
alternative wet and dry, dissolved gases in rain,
high wind velocity etc affect the durability.

 Fracture: For good building stone its fracture
should be sharp, even and clear.
 5. Hardness: The hardness greater than 17,
treated as hard used in road works. It is
between 14 to 17, medium hardness, less 14
said be poor hardness.
 6. Percentage wear: For a good building
stone, the percentage wear should be equal
to or less then 3 percent.

 7. Resistance to fire: A good building stone
be fire proof. Sandstone, Argillaceous stone
resists fire quite well
 8. Specific gravity: For a good building stone
the specific gravity should be greater then
8.7 or so.
 9. Texture: A good building stone should have
compact fine crystalline structure should be
free from cavities, cracks or patches of stuff
or loose material.

 10. Water absorption: For a good building
stone, the percentage absorption by weight
after 24 hours should not exceed 0.60.
 11. Seasoning: Stones should be well
seasoned before putting into use. A period of
about 6 to 12 months is considered to be
sufficient for proper seasoning.
 12. Toughness Index: Impact test, the value
of toughness less than 13 – Not tough,
between 13 and 19 – Moderate, greater than
19- high

 In order to ensure suitable selection of stone
of particular work, one must be conversant
with its composition, characteristics, uses
and place of availability.

 1. Igneous rock
 2. Composed of quart, felspar and mica and
minerals
 3. Available in grey, green, brown and pink and
red
 4. Hard and durable
 5. High resistance to weathering
 6. The texture varies with its quality
 7. Specify gravity 2.7 and compressive strength
700 to 1300 kg/cm2
 8. Used for ornamental, road metal, railway
ballast, aggregate for concrete; for construction
of bridges, piers and marine works etc.

 1. Igneous rock
 2. It is compact, hard and heavy
 3.Available in red, yellow grey, blue and
greenish black colour
 4. Specific gravity is 3 and compressive
strength varies 1530 to 1890 kg/cm2.
 5. Used for ornamental, rail road ballast,
aggregates for concrete etc.

 1. Sedimentary rock
 2. It is available in variety of formations fine
grained, coarse grained compact or porous
 3. Available in white, green, blue, black, red
and yellow.
 4. Specific gravity 2.65 to 2.95
 5. Compressive strength is 650kgs / cm2
 6. Used for ashlar works

 1. Sedimentary rock: It is available in a
variety of forms which differ from one
another in colour Compaction, texture,
hardness and durable
 a. Compact lime stone
 b. Granular lime stone
 c. Magnesia lime stone
 d. Kanker lime stone
 e. Used for paving, road metal, etc

 1. Metamorphic rock
 2. Available in white, blue, green, yellow
black and red colour
 3. High compactness,
 4. Suitable for decorative works, wall lining
columns, pile, table slabs, hearths, tiled
floors, steps of stair case etc.

 1. Metamorphic rock
 2. Non absorbent, compact fine grained and
produce metallic ringing sound when struck
 3. Available in black, dark blue, grey,
reddish brown etc.
 4. Used for providing damp proof course,
paving dados etc

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