An Essential Guide to Stone Quarry

What is the Quarrying of Stones?

Quarrying can be described as the process where the stones are taken out of the natural rocks to carry out different types of engineering purposes.

It is done at ground level in an exposed condition, for which an appropriate site has to be selected that can be effectively used for the desired purposes.

Quarry companies utilize rocks based on the purposes for which they are used and carry out required processes based on the nature of the same.

The quarry companies in Malaysia are using advanced technologies to ensure the fulfillment of different purposes of quarrying.

The process of quarrying stones is mainly utilized for producing materials that can be used for construction and other purposes.

As stones are used as the main foundation for civil engineering works, they are one of the materials that are always in high demand, making the process of quarrying also important. 

Types of Stone Quarrying 

Different types of stone quarries are seen in different parts of the world and are utilized for carrying out the quarrying process using different tools.

The quarries in Malaysia are utilizing different types of rocks for quarrying, of which granite and limestone are a few of the important ones that are commonly available.

Mining and quarrying are important for obtaining useful natural resources. Important types of stone quarrying are the following:   

1. Open-pit Quarry

Open quarries can be seen commonly in different places, and they are one of the quarries that are extensively used for the fulfillment of different purposes. Various rock products for commerce are taken from such open-pit quarries. 

2. Underground Mining 

One of the usual ways in which stones are quarried is underground mining, where excavations and other operations take place over a long period of time. The quarries that go deep below the limestone beds are used to carry out the further processing. 

3. Boulder Quarry

Another important type of quarry is the boulder quarry, in which the blocks of stone are cut from boulders. It is described as a unique accent rock where these boulders are mined from the underground rather than through a natural process. 

4. Aggregate Quarry

In the present conditions, most quarries that are operating now are aggregate quarries. Advanced tools and techniques are used to carry out the process in aggregate quarries. 

Methods of Quarrying 

While dealing with the quarrying process, different methods are utilized depending on the nature and purpose of the stone.

The methods used for quarrying are carried out using chisels and hammers, which are carried out by skilled workers. Those with enhanced skills and capabilities are involved in such activities. Important methods of quarrying are the following:  

 
a. Digging 

In the method of digging, the stones are merely excavated using suitable instruments, which is one of the best methods when soft stones occur at low levels on the surface. 

b. Heating 

While heating is done, the top surface of the rock is heated to remove the detached parts of the rock easily. The unequal expansion caused by heating helps separate the upper part of the rock effectively. 

c. Wedging 

This method is utilized in cases where the rock surface has cracks or fissures in which steel wedges are used to drive through the cracks using a hammer.

The blocks of stones are then removed using the required instruments. Artificial cracks can be formed if no natural cracks are found on the rock surface. 

d. Blasting 

In the process of blasting, explosives are utilized to convert big rocks into small pieces, which are used when it is extremely difficult to break them down into pieces.

Certain tools, like a dipper, jumper, tamping bar, etc., are used to carry out this process of blasting and obtaining small-sized stones. 

In Closing

The construction materials used for different buildings can be obtained from quarry suppliers where appropriate stones or rocks are made available for different purposes.

The demand for quarry suppliers in Malaysia has been increasing with a rise in the usage of quarry stones.

Construction materials in Malaysia can be used based on the existing conditions and the varying needs of businesses utilizing them.

Using effective quarrying methods with the help of skilled workers and advanced tools helps in obtaining better results as per the users' needs.