Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geometric quality assessment of in situ blocks in dimension stone quarries

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The profitability of stone quarries depends on the appearance (color and texture) and, more importantly, on the size of the blocks, which is determined by the three-dimensional discontinuity pattern of the rock mass. However, to date there is no comprehensive criterion by which to assess the size of blocks in quarries. The aim of the study reported here is to identify factors that facilitate decision-making on the desirability of an individual block and ultimately on all blocks for extraction as a dimension stone. To this end, we first developed a novel algorithm to calculate the largest rectangular parallelepiped that can be placed inside a block and then defined a regularity factor (α) and a quarry block shape factor (q) that enable the geometric quality of the block to be assessed more accurately than currently possible. The sensitivity analysis of these factors showed that the change in angle relative to the change in spacing has the greater effect on the geometric quality. The proposed factors displayed a good performance in a comparison analysis of four sites of the Dareh Bokhari travertine quarry complex located in Mahallat, Markazi province, Iran. Based on the results, blocks at sites 2 and 4 have the lowest and the highest geometric quality, respectively, which is in accordance with the operational conditions at the respective sites. Moreover, comparison of the values of factor q obtained from applying various cutting planes indicated that to maximally increase block production capacity, the current cutting direction at site 4 should be adjusted 33° eastward.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashmole I (2004) Dimension stone: the small scale mining potential in South Africa. Paper presented at “Small Scale Mining 2004”. Johannesburg, 9 September 2004

  • ASTM International (2014) ASTM C119. Standard terminology relating to dimension stone. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • Ataei M (2008) Exploitation of dimensional stones. Shahrood Univ Tech Publ 2008:17–19 (In Persian)

  • Dearman W (1991) Engineering geological mapping. Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd, Oxford

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Demarco MM, Oyhantçabal P, Stein K-J, Siegesmund S (2011) Black dimensional stones: geology, technical properties and deposit characterization of the dolerites from Uruguay. Environ Earth Sci 63:1879–1909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elci H, Turk N (2014) Rock mass block quality designation for marble production. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 69:26–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elmouttie M, Krähenbühl G, Poropat G (2013) Robust algorithms for polyhedral modelling of fractured rock mass structure. Comput Geotech 53:83–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elmouttie M, Poropat G (2012) A method to estimate in situ block size distribution. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45:401–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elmouttie M, Poropat G, Krähenbühl G (2010) Polyhedral modelling of rock mass structure. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 47:544–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman RE (1995) Block theory and its application. In: Daemen JJK, Schultz RA (eds) Proc 35th US Symp on Rock Mechanics. AA Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 3–15

  • Goodman RE, Shi G-H (1985) Block theory and its application to rock engineering, vol 26. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs

  • Heliot D (1998) Generating a blocky rock mass. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 3:127–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson J, Priest S (1979) Discontinuities and rock mass geometry. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 6:339–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jafari A, Khishvand M, Rahami H (2013) Developing an algorithm for reconstruction blocky systems in discontinuous media: three-dimensional analysis. Int J Numer Anal Methods Geomech 37:661–684

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalenchuk KS, Diederichs MS, McKinnon S (2006) Characterizing block geometry in jointed rockmasses. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 43:1212–1225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karzulovic A, Goodman R (1985) Determination of principal joint frequencies. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 6:471–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Latham J-P, Van Meulen J, Dupray S (2006) Prediction of in-situ block size distributions with reference to armourstone for breakwaters. Eng Geol 86:18–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu J (2002) Systematic identification of polyhedral rock blocks with arbitrary joints and faults. Comput Geotech 29:49–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu P, Latham J-P (1999) Developments in the assessment of in-situ block size distributions of rock masses. Rock Mech Rock Eng 32:29–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mosch S, Nikolayew D, Ewiak O, Siegesmund S (2011) Optimized extraction of dimension stone blocks. Environ Earth Sci 63:1911–1924

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller L, Bock H, Müller K (1970) Structural geology of rocks—rock mechanics in construction. Wilhelm Ernst & Sohn Verlag, Berlin (in German)

  • Mutlutürk M (2007) Determining the amount of marketable blocks of dimensional stone before actual extraction. J Min Sci 43:67–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nefeslioglu H, Gokceoglu C, Sonmez H (2006) Indirect determination of weighted joint density (wJd) by empirical and fuzzy models: Supren (Eskisehir, Turkey) marbles. Eng Geol 85:251–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmström A (1982) The volumetric joint count—a useful and simple measure of the degree of rock jointing. In: Proceedings, Fourth International Congress of the International Association of Engineering Geology, New Delhi, pp 221–228

  • Palmstrøm A (1995) A system for characterization of rock masses for rock engineering purposes. PhD thesis. University of Oslo, Oslo

  • Palmstrom A (2005) Measurements of and correlations between block size and rock quality designation (RQD). Tunn Undergr Space Technol 20:362–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Primavori P (1999) Planet stone. Giorgio 7th Edition S.A.S., Verona

  • Şen Z, Eissa EA (1991) Volumetric rock quality designation. J Geotech Eng 117:1331–1346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheikholeslami MR (2008) Geological map of Mahallat quadrangle 6057, scale 1:100,000. Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran

  • Shi G-H (1992) Discontinuous deformation analysis: a new numerical model for the statics and dynamics of deformable block structures. Eng Comput 9:157–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith J (2004) Determining the size and shape of blocks from linear sampling for geotechnical rock mass classification and assessment. J Struct Geol 26:1317–1339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sönmez H, Nefeslioglu H, Gökçeoğlu C (2004) Effects of the number and spacing of discontinuities on weighted joint density (wJd). Rock Mech Rock Ent 37:403–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa LM (2007) Granite fracture index to check suitability of granite outcrops for quarrying. Eng Geol 92:146–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa L (2010) Evaluation of joints in granitic outcrops for dimension stone exploitation. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 43:85–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stavropoulou M (2014) Discontinuity frequency and block volume distribution in rock masses. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 65:62–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tercan A, Özçelik Y (2000) Geostatistical evaluation of dimension-stone quarries. Eng Geol 58:25–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turanboy A, Ülker E (2012) A new approach for assessing dimension quarries using rock block size distributions. In: ISRM International Symposium-EUROCK 2012, Stockholm, Sweden. International Society for Rock Mechanics

  • Ülker E, Turanboy A (2009) Maximum volume cuboids for arbitrarily shaped in-situ rock blocks as determined by discontinuity analysis—A genetic algorithm approach. Comput Geosci 35:1470–1480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (1976) The development potential of dimension stone. Publication ST/ESA/34. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York

  • Wang L, Yamashita S, Sugimoto F, Pan C, Tan G (2003) A methodology for predicting the in situ size and shape distribution of rock blocks. Rock Mech Rock Eng 36:121–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warburton P (1985) A computer program for reconstructing blocky rock geometry and analyzing single block stability. Comput Geosci 11:707–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yarahmadi R, Bagherpour R, Sousa LM, Taherian S-G (2015) How to determine the appropriate methods to identify the geometry of in situ rock blocks in dimension stones. Environ Earth Sci 74:6779–6790

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere thanks to the managers of Dareh Bokhari quarries for their cooperation.

Funding

The costs of this research were provided by the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Hafez 424, Tehran, 15875-4413, Iran

    Arman Hazrathosseini

  2. Department of Mining Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

    Saeed Mahdevari

Authors
  1. Arman Hazrathosseini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Saeed Mahdevari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arman Hazrathosseini.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hazrathosseini, A., Mahdevari, S. Geometric quality assessment of in situ blocks in dimension stone quarries. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78, 2377–2385 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1316-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-018-1316-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation