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Quarrying and surface construction

We have the solution to fit your needs - whether it is in civil engineering, quarrying or the dimension stone industry. Good infrastructure is crucial and the demand for equipment to do the job is even higher. We know what is important for an efficient job site, no matter the application. To make a profit out of your quarrying business is getting tougher and more efficient tools are always needed. With a more productive and efficient quarrying process the end result will benefit.


The importance of accuracy

Productivity, and the need to control ground vibrations, mean that drillers need effective instrumentation for guidance. Hole orientation, deviation and depth errors must be minimized if production is to be optimized, together with the quality of the end result. Instrumentation for angle setting and hole-depth control increases the accuracy of drilling and reduces the potential for human error. Improved accuracy in setting out the drill pattern saves time, drill meters and explosives. 

The hole must be collared at the right location and maintain the correct alignment, as well as end at the predetermined depth – which may or may not make an allowance for sub-drilling below the required final level.

 

Modern hole alignment instruments offer greater drilling precision, with automatic depth control and drill feed stop. This leads to less overdrilling, better fragmentation, and the formation of flat benches after blasting, all of which add up to lower drilling and blasting costs. In addition, ground vibration will be minimized, which is particularly important in urban areas.

 

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Dimension stone production

Dimension stone is quarried by cutting, or separating by some other means, large blocks of stone from the natural rock mass. The size of individual block produced depends on a number of factors, including the homogeneity of the rock itself, the ability of the quarry operator to handle the rough stone, and the required end use for the stone once it has been shaped. A typical block size might be in the order of 6 m3 (200 ft3), which would relate to a block weight of 10–18 t, depending on the density.

 

Dimension stone quarry process

The way an individual quarry is operated can vary enormously. The physical characteristics of the rock mass (how homogeneous it is, and whether there are defined lines of weakness such as regular fracturing or lamination), the size of both the resource and the market for its products, and the financial resources of the operator, all play a role in deciding the quarry design and capacity. In a large-scale operation, the first stage in production is to loosen individual blocks that may contain thousands of cubic meters of material, from quarry benches 10 m or more in height.

 

Conversely, a small-scale quarry may have a very limited output, produce raw blocks weighing 5–10 t, and have a lower bench height that is suited to available production technology.

 

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Hole Navigation System (HNS)

Planning ahead results in fewer surprises. The hole angles and the blasting direction are set in the drill plan which is transferred to the rig. When you have drilled according to the  drill plan, you can run the information that  the rig has gathered to plan the blast. 

 

The Hole Navigation System uses the information and helps you to drill parallel holes to the correct depth. This gives you uniform benches. A well controlled blast results in better fragmentation, which reduces the number of boulders. Fewer boulders mean less secondary breakings. 

 

With good fragmentation, it is easier to fill the loader buckets. Full buckets mean fewer trips to fill the transportation unit. Effectively loaded transportation units, thanks to good fragmentation, mean fewer trips to the crusher.

 

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FAQ: Surface construction and quarrying

What is quarrying?

A quarry is typically defined as being a surface excavation for the production

of rock as the principal product. As such, it differs from an open cast, open-cut,

surface or open-pit mine in that the rock itself is the valuable commodity, rather

than a specific mineral within the rock mass.

Which are the most common rock types in DSI?

The most commonly used commercial stones today include

marble, granite, slate and sandstone, all of which can be

found in a vast array of visual and physical properties. This

is by no means an exhaustive list, however, with rocks such

as limestone, basalt, gabbro, travertine and tufa also widely

used where their properties are suitable.

What is the main benefit of using Hole Navigation System?

HNS help the operator to achieve parallell holes to the correct depth.

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