What is a quarry? Detailed analysis

The article tells about what a quarry is, what they are like, how their development is conducted and what they are in general for.

Extraction of raw materials

Even in ancient times, people drew attention to the fact that the mass of various raw materials is concentrated in the bowels of the earth, which, if processed, can yield many useful materials. Naturally, in the first place was always metal, from which produced tools and war. Due to the imperfection of treatment methods for a long time people have used metals such as tin, copper and lead. But because of their plasticity, the tools quickly worn out, and later various alloys were invented, which differed in higher hardness and stability. But with the beginning of industrial production, the need for them has disappeared.

However, in addition to metals in the bowels of the earth, there are other useful materials, in particular, sand and various rock rocks. They are obtained most often in quarries. So what is a quarry? And what is mined in it? In this we will understand. But first, let's define the terminology.

Definition

The quarry is a set of mines that are produced by the open method, that is, on the very surface of the earth, and not in mines. This word has French roots, and in the original it sounds like carrière, which means "cut". So now we know what a career is. But why is their development being conducted on the surface and what is most often extracted in them?

Technology

Most of the minerals and other materials of value are concentrated underground. The depth of occurrence usually depends on the specific area, the material, its shape, etc. For example, coal is hidden by the earth's thickness because it was formed from the remains of ancient plants, which under pressure gradually became mineralized. There are, of course, also terrestrial exits, they have turned out because of faults of the earth's crust. But not all substances are hidden deep, some are on the surface or lie near it, and therefore for their extraction there is no need to build deep mines, it is much easier to produce mining by open-pit method.

More often the quarry looks like a large funnel, on the slopes of which, as deepening, a spiral road for engineering is made.

So, we sorted out the question of what a career is. But what do they get most often?

Sand

Sand is one of the most common substances on the planet, and no one feels any lack of it. However, what can sand be useful for, why is it needed?

Ironically, the sand is very valuable. Of course, not like iron, and even more so with gold and silver. Of some varieties of sand, glass is made, sand is added to concrete during construction, is used as drainage in the construction of tunnels, and in the end no children's playground is complete without a sandbox. And by the way, the sand quarry after the end of development is often flooded and becomes a place for swimming.

A rock

Without a stone, humanity also can not do without. Naturally, not all stones are valuable, but its certain varieties. Most often it is marble and granite. Since they usually lie near the surface, the mines are not built for their extraction, but they are used all the same careers. Unlike sand, it is more difficult to extract a stone - you can not simply load it with excavators. Therefore, depending on the type, it is either first crushed by jackhammers or explosions, or special cutting machines are used. This happens when monolithic and even blocks are needed, which are further processed further.

Stone quarry is usually developed for many years, and its reserves are almost inexhaustible.

That's all. Now we know what the quarry is for.