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What is a Quarry?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A quarry is a large deposit of rock such as granite which is mined for use in construction projects. Quarries can be found all over the world, and most contain a heavy concentration of a particular type of rock such as marble, limestone, slate, or gypsum. In many nations, the word quarry is used interchangeably for two types of quarry: gravel pits, from which gravel and particulate matter are extracted, and dimension stone quarries, from which large chunks of sheets of rock are extracted for use in building. Dimension stone is used to make tiles, flagstones, counters, roofs, and other projects which require large slabs of uniform stone.

Unlike other types of mines, a quarry is usually not dug out underground, and rarely reaches a depth greater than 60 feet (18 meters). A shallow pit is excavated into a deposit of rock which runs close to the surface, and the pit is slowly expanded to remove valuable rock material. If the quarry is being used to extract gravel or fill, explosives may be used to break it up before it is removed and loaded into trucks. If dimension stone is required, the excavation process is more painstaking to ensure that the stone is not damaged.

Slate from a quarry.
Slate from a quarry.

While a quarry is in active operation, it must be protected from groundwater seepage and rain, or it will turn into a small pond or lake. Many quarries are surrounded with moats of impermeable material to prevent seepage, and are also covered to prevent rain from accumulating in the open pit. In some cases, pumps may be installed to assist with removing water from the quarry. The company which built the quarry also maintains roads to and from the site, and sometimes builds a temporary processing center for the rock so that it can be removed, graded, and processed on site, with excess being disposed at the site rather than miles away.

Slate originally mined from a quarry.
Slate originally mined from a quarry.

After a quarry is abandoned, it is usually fenced off or otherwise secured to prevent people from injuring themselves there. In some cases there may be toxins present at the site, due to the way in which the rock was extracted. In others, as the quarry slowly fills with water, it may be a tempting place to swim. However, the quarry may pose hazards to swimming through objects in the water, depth, coldness, or toxins which may have leached into the water. In some cases, an inactive quarry may be converted into a swimming area, with modifications made to create a safe swimming and recreation area.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AboutMechanics researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AboutMechanics researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon57606

I've heard of stone from Croatia. Is St. Pierre a Quarry or a city in Croatia?

anon27470

We are looking for St. Pierre limestone from Croatia. Do you have a list or know where we can get a list of the quarries in Croatia?

Thanks

anon18946

this is so interesting coz i am also doing a geo project and its due in a few hours! which country are you in? im in Botswana.

anon12421

i am doing my geography project and i would like it if you could help me?

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    • Slate from a quarry.
      By: Tyler Boyes
      Slate from a quarry.
    • Slate originally mined from a quarry.
      By: Brad Pict
      Slate originally mined from a quarry.
    • Limestone is quarried from the ground.
      By: PRILL Mediendesign
      Limestone is quarried from the ground.
    • Gravel may be extracted from a quarry.
      By: nito
      Gravel may be extracted from a quarry.
    • Rocks and stones extracted from a quarry may be crushed for other commercial uses.
      By: Deyan Georgiev
      Rocks and stones extracted from a quarry may be crushed for other commercial uses.