Syllabus - DIMENSIONAL STONE MINING (MI703 (C))

Introduction

Definition, historical use of natural stones.

Geology and occurrences

Classification of dimensional stones, composition, chemical and geo-chemical properties, various standards for normalization of dimensional stones.

Mining of dimensional stones

Various techniques of dimensional stone mining – block mining and slab mining; Manual mining; Mechanized mining – line drilling, in-situ sawing by wire saw, chain saw, portable circular saw, flame cutting.

Cutting / Sawing tools

Tool carrier – circular steel blade, steel wire rope, chain jib saw, physical and mechanical properties, elastic properties, tension etc.; Cutting tools – diamond segments, diamond pearls / bits, tungsten bits etc.; Process of manufacture, ingredients, brazing / fitting, wearing pattern and control; Cost of cutting.

Handling of blocks and slabs

Equipment used trucks and trailers. Quarrying machines for dimensional stones: Portable circular saw, wire saw, chain saw, line drills – special design features of the machines, techniques of use and maintenance.

Production monitoring

Recovery, waste generation, productivity, inherent defects, measurement and corrective actions, cost evaluation.

Environmental issues

Management of solid waste, slurry waste, soil land and water; Protection and rehabilitation.

Health, safety and welfare

Protective care from abrasive dust, personal safety and welfare.

Application, processing and architecture in dimensional stone

Application – flooring, roofing, cladding, stairs, paving, facets; Processing and polishing – various techniques for sawing of blocks, shaping of edges, polishing and calibration; Fixing and installation – techniques of fixing of dimensional stones in various applications like flooring, cladding, faceds, stairs, roofing and paving; Care and maintenance of dimensional stones – techniques for post fixing care and maintenance of dimensional stones in various applications.