Prospecting and Planning

The quarrying process begins by determining where a marble deposit may be located. Most marble beds "outcrop" or present visible bedrock along the Earth's surface in long and narrow bands which may extend many miles. Though some information may be determined based on observation of surface bedrock, an understanding of geology as well as a series of samples is necessary to provide a complete picture of the potential success of a deposit.

By consulting geologic maps and previous documentation, prospectors can gain a relatively accurate knowledge of the extent, thickness, attitude, and soundness of a deposit. 

The primary factors to consider when planning for a quarry operation include the attitude of the marble beds, the depth of the overburden, and the uniformity of the product in the beds. 

Most marble beds are situated in regions of extreme folding and although they were originally flat they are now tilted. If beds are inclined at a moderate angle, either long shallow quarries or tunnels must be made. If beds are steeply inclined or vertical, either long shallow quarries with a great deal of stripping or deep quarries with their associated costs and dangers are necessary. If the strata are flat and the beds are near the surface, a wide shallow quarry will suffice. 

In few marble deposits are thick beds uniform throughout, though in many regions certain beds supply stone of better quality than the beds above or below it. 

The shape of the opening and strategy for quarrying is influenced by these and other factors; determining whether a quarry may be deep or shallow, an open pit or a tunnel. Not only does this allow the company to make the best decision regarding making a profit, but what form of quarry presents the least amount of danger as different geologic features may predispose quarries to collapse if not considered carefully.