COMO se HACE el piso de MÁRMOL | Como se EXTRAE el MÁRMOL de las CANTERAS

How is Marble Extracted?

The Value and History of Marble

• Marble is one of the most expensive rocks in the world, with blocks costing up to half a million dollars.

• The Romans used marble for significant structures like the Pantheon, and it continues to be utilized in important buildings today.

• Carrara marble, known for its white purity, has been extracted from northern Italy's mountains since Roman times.

Extraction Process Overview

• Carrara quarries have produced more marble than any other location globally, valued at over one billion euros and yielding four million tons annually.

• Each slab can cost up to $400 per square meter; extraction involves large machines and explosives to transport marble down steep roads.

Initial Steps in Extraction

• The quarry consists of 25 levels, each 8 meters high, totaling 200 meters.

• Miners drill strategic holes into the mountain using drills before blasting sections with explosives.

Cutting Techniques

• After blasting, workers cut 500 tons of marble daily using a diamond wire saw that slices through rock like cheese.

• Various cutting methods include chain saws capable of penetrating five meters deep or diamond wire saws for precision cuts.

Finalizing Block Extraction

• A cable is threaded through the rock to make horizontal cuts; once complete, vertical cuts are made from above.

• High-powered machinery allows precise cutting at speeds up to 45 meters per second while continuously lubricated with water.

Moving Heavy Blocks Safely

• Once cut, massive blocks weighing 500 tons are extracted using modern techniques instead of ancient wooden wedges.

• Hydro bags filled with water expand within fissures to help separate the block without damage during extraction.

Ensuring Safe Landing and Processing

• As blocks are lowered from heights, they land on sand and mud mattresses to prevent breakage upon impact.

How is Marble Transported and Processed?

Transportation of Marble Blocks

• Large marble blocks are transported to trucks using excavators; their size often causes the excavator's bucket to fail, necessitating re-cutting with diamond saws.

• Depending on the size and weight of the marble, trucks transport blocks from higher quarry levels to lower processing areas where they are washed post-extraction.

• Specific machinery is required for moving and handling marble during loading, unloading, and processing phases; any mistake can lead to severe accidents.

• Approximately 600 trucks operate daily transporting marble to factories or ports after a dangerous 45-minute journey; each slab can cost over $10,000 based on extraction methods and veining.

• In the previous year, 1.2 million tons of marble crossed from Italy to countries like China, the USA, and Germany; local workshops also receive shipments.

Processing of Marble Blocks

• Marble blocks are stored outdoors until orders arrive; they are then cut into smaller slabs using 76 diamond saws capable of producing slabs as thin as two centimeters.

• After cutting, slabs are shaped and polished according to specifications; polishing enhances shine and creates a smooth surface finish.