Stone
Understanding the Effects of Quarrying and Transporting Stone
The Blasting Process
- Explosives are detonated, sending shock waves through the rock. These seismic waves are absorbed into the ground, and the effect of this vibration on the surrounding wildlife is unknown.
The Quarrying Process
- Fragmented granite is drilled and cut into movable blocks for transportation, producing quarry dust.
- Quarry dust:
- Effects on land: The dust settles on the surrounding land, where it leaches into the soil. roots are unable to absorb moisture from the contaminated soil, suffocating the plants, soil, and endangering all supported organisms and plants.
- Effects on workers: Silicosis is an incurable, progressive lung disease caused by repeated inhalation of silica dust. Pneumonoconiosis (sCWP) is a prerequisite for lung cancer. Both of these diseases are known to be caused by mining natural stone.
- Effects on land: The dust settles on the surrounding land, where it leaches into the soil. roots are unable to absorb moisture from the contaminated soil, suffocating the plants, soil, and endangering all supported organisms and plants.
- Water Run-off: Stone is cut with water to reduce the amount of dust in the air, which is better for workers health. This water is often returned to the ground and rivers without being treated, polluting them.
- Exploitation of labor laws (especially child labor laws) in underdeveloped countries
- Crush-related deaths
Transportation
- Energy is used and pollution created when transporting stone long distances.
- Accidents Happen: Pollution and waste is created from tipped over trucks and sinking ships. Often times when an accident happens the material will be left at the site of the accident with the vehicle, because of the cost and difficulty of removal (eg. a truck that drove off of a steep cliff).
Stone Types
- Granite: Granite is formed by the slow cooling and crystallization of molten magma, making it an igneous stone. Granite is most often mined in India, China, Brazil, Scotland, and Suriname.
- Radon in Granite: Radon is a naturally occuring gas formed by the breakdown of uranium. Granite may contain and emit radon gas, though it has been reported to be only in small amounts. Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer in the US (smoking is #1).
- the debate is on-going, and it is ultimately up to consumers to decide how comfortable they are with the possibility.
- Quartz: Quartz is composed of silicon and oxygen, and is a metamorphic stone, which is an ingneous rock subjected to extreme pressure and high temperature. Quartz is found throughout the world, but is most often mined in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Africa, and Europe.
- Marble: Marble is crystalized limestone, and is a metamorphic stone formed when limestone is subjected to extreme pressure and high temperature. Marble is most often mined in Spain, Italy, India, Australia, Nambia, China, and the US.
- Travertine: Travertine is formed from sediment deposited under cold or hot spring waters and compacted by the weight of the water. Travertine is a sedimentary stone. It is found throughout the world, but most often mined in Italy, Croatia, Afghanistan, China, Guatemala, and Turkey.
- Sandstone: Sandstone is formed from sand, silica, clay, calcium carbonate, or other sediment deposited under water, and then compacted by the weight of the water. Sandstone is a sedimentary stone. It is most often mined in India, Scotland, and Algeria.
- Soapstone: Soapstone is made up of talc (a mineral) and is a metamorphic stone, formed when igneous rock is subjected to extreme pressure and high temperature. Soapstone is found throught the world in small deposits, and is most often mined in Brazil, Finland, and the US.