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in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority,
and whereas the attached publication of the Bureau of Indian Standards is of particular interest
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education and knowledge, the attached public safety standard is made available to promote the
timely dissemination of this information in an accurate manner to the public.

“जान1 का अ+धकार, जी1 का अ+धकार” “प0रा1 को छोड न' 5 तरफ”

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan Jawaharlal Nehru
“The Right to Information, The Right to Live” “Step Out From the Old to the New”

IS 8381 (1977): Recommended practice for quarrying stones

for construction purposes [CED 6: Stones]

“!ान $ एक न' भारत का +नम-ण”

Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda
“Invent a New India Using Knowledge”

“!ान एक ऐसा खजाना > जो कभी च0राया नहB जा सकता ह”

है”
ह
Bhartṛhari—Nītiśatakam
“Knowledge is such a treasure which cannot be stolen”
 IS:8381-197-7
( Reaffirmed 2003 )

Indian Standard
RECOMMENDED PRACTICE FOR QUARRYING
STONES FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES
( First Keprint AUGUST 1988)

UDC 691.21:622.271.2

@ Copight 1977

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHl 110002

Gr 3 May 1977
 ISr8381-1977

Indian Standard
RECOMMENDED PRACTICE FOR QUARRYING
STONES FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES

Stones Sectional Committee, BDC 6

Chairman Representing
&RI S. G. BALEXUNDRY Public Works & Electricity Department, Government
of Karnataka, Bangalore

Members
SHRI K. K. ACRAWALA Builders’ Association of India, Bombay
SARI K. K. MADHOK ( Alternate 1
SERI J. K. CHARAN Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch ( Ministry of Defence )
SHRI K. N. SUBB_4 RAO ( Alternate )
GKIEF ARCHITECT Central Public Works Department, New Delhi
CHIEF ENGINEER ( B & R ) Public Works Department,Covernment ofRajasthan,
.Jaipur
LALA G. C. DAS National Test House, Calcutta
S~nr P. R. DAS ( Alternate )
SHRI Y. N. DAVE Department of Geology & Mining, Government of
Rajasthan, Udaipur
SHRI R. G. GUPTA ( Alternate )
DEPUTY DIXE~TOR ( Rnan~acu ), Public Works Department, Government of Orissa,
CONTROT, & RESEARCH Bhubaneshwar
LABORATORY
DEPUTY DIRECTOR ( RESEARCH ), Public Works Department, Government of Uttar
pWD RESF,AIXII INSTITUTE Pradesh, Lucknow
Da M. P. DIIIX Central Road Research Institute ( CSIR ), New Delhi
Snar R. L. NANDA ( Alternate)
D~ECTO~ ( Cs;1LIRS ) Central Water Commission, New Delhi
DEPCTY DIRICCTOR ( CSMRS ) ( Atmmte )
DIRECTOR, GERI, B~non-4 Public Works Department, Government of Gujarat,
Vadodara
DIRIXTOR, MERI, NAarx Irrigation & Power Department, Government of
RESEARCH OFFICER, MATE- Maharashtra, Bombay
RIAL TESTING DIVISION,
MERI, NASIK ( Alternate )
SHRI M. K. GIJPTA Himalayan Tiles and Marble Pvt Ltd, Bombay
DR IQBAL ALI Engineering Research Laboratory, Government of
Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad
Sunr A. B. LINGaM ( Alternate )

( Continued on page 1

@ Copyright 1977
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
This publication is protected under the Indian Copyright Act ( XIV of 1957 ) and
reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.
IS : 8381- 1977

( continued
frompage1 )
Members Xeprescntin~
SERI J. P. JAWS Institution of Engineers ( India ), Calcutta
SH~I R. C. JAIN Ministry of Shipping & Transport ( Roads Wing )
SHRI D. G. KADKADE The Hindustan Construction Co Ltd, Bombay
SHRI V. B. DESAI ( z&mate )
SHRIPREY SwARUP Department of Geology & Mining, Government of
Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow
SHRI A. K. AQARWAL (Alternate)
SHRI B. RAMCHANDRAN Geological Survey of India, Calcutta
&RI S. R. PRADHAN ( Alternate )
DR A. V. R. RAO National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SHRI J. SEN GUPTA ( Alternate )
SUPERIXTENDINQ ENQINEER Public Works Department, Government of Tamil
( DESIQN ) Nadu, Madras
DEPUTY CHIEB ENQINEER
( I & D ) ( Altwnate )
SUPFZINTENDINQ ENQINEER Public Works Department, Government of Andhra
S(;~$~;~D~-INQ ) Pradesh, Hyderabad
ENQINEER Public Works & Electricity Department, Government
of Kamataka, Bangalore
S$$~%%NQ ENQINEER Public Works Department, Government of West
( PLANNINQ CIRCLE ) Bengal, Calcutta
SU;t;K~~~~~~ SURVEYOR OF Public Works Department, Government of Himachal
Pradesh, Slmla
SHRI D. AJITHA SIMHA, Director General, BIS ( Ex-ojkio Member )
Director ( @iv Engg )

secretary
SKRI K. M. MATHUR
Deputy Director ( Civ Engg ), JJIS

2
 IS t 8381.1977

Indian Standard
RECOMMENDED PRA-C-I-ICEFOR QUARRYING
STONES FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES

0. FOREWORD
0.1 This Indian Standard was adopted by the Indian Standards
Institution on 17 February 1977, after the draft finalized by the Stones
Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering
Division Council.
0.2 A number of stone quarries exist in this country and to quarry stones
for construction purposes from such quarries certain methods based on
past experience~are followed. This standard, which is in the form of a
guide, has been prepared based on the practices being followed by the
Mining and Geology Departments of various states of this country which
have a good number of quarries. This guide will be therefore useful
for those departments which intend to start quarrying in the new mines.
0.2.1 All quarrying work will, however, be done according to the
statutory rules in force, and wherever there is any conflict the require-
ments given in statutory rules shall prevail.

1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard covers the recommended practice for quarrying of
stone? for construction purposes.

2. GENERAL
2.1 Stones for construction purposes can broadly be classified into follow-
ing classes mainly on the basis of its use:
a) Dimension stone,
b) Irregular stone, and
c) Crushed/broken/natural stone.
2.1.1 The term ‘dimension stone’ is applied to ~blocks or slabs of
natural stone and can be cut into definite shapes and sizes; irregular
large size blocks ‘rubble’ obtained by breaking are used in the spillway
construction of dams, bridge construction -having specific requirements
while crushed and broken stones include irregular fragments that result
from crushing fine rock powder produced by various grinding processes
and natural stones are boulder stones, gravel and sand available in river
beds.
3
2.2 The quarrying of the dimension stone is required to be done with
utmost care to avoid shattering or damaging the block in any way. It
also requires a careful selection of quarry site in order to maintain uni-
form texture and colour and also freedom from cracks, flaw, etc. On the
other hand, the quarrying of crushed and broken stone is designed to
break the rock into fragments with heavy charges of explosives, its reduc-
tion into smaller sizes by impact or rolls and its screening, etc. The
common aspect in these two branches is with regard to the production of
the crushed and broken stone while mining and processing the dimension
stone and less commonly, the production of the blocks when quarrying
the crushed stone.

2.3 For quarrying operation of any dimension stone, intimate knowledge

of the geology of rock formation is a primary and practical necessity.
One of the ~important geological features which control the economic
working of stones is the structure which includes strike and dip, folding,
faulting, joint pattern, imperfection of the occurrence, etc.

2.4 Common dimension stones include, marble, granite, limestone,

sandstone, charnnockite, trap, etc.

3. MARBLE

3.1 Selection of Quarry Site- Quarrying of marble requires’ the

cutting of the blocks of as big size as possible and free from cracks or
flaws. One has to be very cautious while undertaking marble quarrying
operation because in that it is an absolute necessity that integrity of the
block is fully preserved. An unsound block with cracks is of no use.
The quality ofthe marble may be fairly constant through a given bed,
but an adjoining bed even though very near may have different quality.
It is, therefore, necessary that to have high quality and uniformity of
the product, the beds may be followed closely. There may be reoccu-
rrences of beds reappearing at the surface due to folding and faulting.
Dip of the deposit also governs the quarrying of the marble. Marble
bed of low to moderate dip is comparatively easier, safer and economic
to work. L
3.1.1 Bedding planes as well as jointing system plays very vital role
in the quarrying of this monomineral rock. Wide spacing of the joints
greatly Increases the value of the deposit because inthat case the blocks
of bigger size can be excavated which fetch high prices. Some joints
are open and conspicuous while others are so obscure that they.are dif&
cult to recognize. The cuts are so placed that they intersect the joints
of the blocks as little as possible. Blocks interesected by oblique joints
are virtually useless. Besides the joints, there are major and minor
cracks, more so near the surface. Majority of the cracks disappear at
some depth. Trained eyes are, therefore, necessary to examine such
geologically vital aspects.

4
 IS : 8381 - 1977

3.2 Quarrying Method - After studving the geological feature of a

particular deposit, method of quarrying is decided. Quarrying of the
marble includes removal of the overburden, opening of free faces,
delineation of the marble block and excavation of the block. So far
underground mining for marble is not adopted in our country.

3.3 Removal of Overburden - First of all overburden is removed

which may be done manually. Blasting may be resorted to where hard
strata occur. Drilling of the holes may be done either by manual
labour or by compressed air drill. The waste rock may be transported
to sufficient distance away where there may not be any mineral
occurrence or a marble bed of good quality underneath.

3.4 Opening Free Faces - Removal of the overburden exposes joints

and planes of weaknesses at the top of the deposit which dare examined
minutely. Thereafter one free face is opened along the strike of the
deposit while another free face is excavated across the strike. The
channels of the free faces are cut by blasting holes of about 2.5 cm dia
and about 0.5 to 0.7 m in depth. At a time, only limited number of
holes are blasted which are under charged so that no damage may be
caused to the block by development of cracks due to blastmg. The
drilling of the holes for excavation of channels may be carried out either
manually or with compressed air drill. The cutting of these channels is
a major time consuming operation which takes qltite a long time. The
width of these channels is approximately 0% to 0.8 m. The depth of the
channels may be from 3 to 6 m depending upon the availability of natural
joint in depth. The length of these channels are decided upon by the
distance between the joints across as well as along the strike. These
joints thus delineate the block which is under extraction.

3.5 Loosening the Block - After opening these free faces, a single
hole ofabout 4 to 5 cm in diameter is drilled roughly at a point where the
joint perpendicular to the strike channel meets the joint perpendicular
to the channel across the strike. The approxrmate location of this hole
is shown in Fig. 1. The depth of this hole is about 30 to 35 cm less than
the depth of the channel, so that effect of blasting may not be passed on
to the block underneath. The hole is under charged with gun powder
and blasted which causes the loosening of the block.

3.6 Separation at Bottom - The block at the bottom can be separated

by drilling the holes along the line determined by the thickness of the
block desired, putting in the wedges and then hammering them in succes-
sion. A series of holes may be drilled with spacing of about 5 to 10 cm.
These holes may be drilled either manrlally or by compressed air drills.
After drilling holes wedges of about 15 to 20 cm in length are driven in
and hammered lightly first followed by subsequently hard hammering
so as to cause the separation of block from the bottom.

5
IS:8381-1977

,- 4 TO 5 cm @ HOLE r JOINT

CHANNEL 04 m
\ /

\<“““““““““““” /

STRIKE OlRECflON 4 J

FIG. 1 LOCATION OF HOLES FOR BLASTING IN MARBLE QUARRY

3.7 Subdivision of Block - The big block of the marble so cut is

further subdivided to obtain smaller blocks of the desired size. The
procedure for extracting the smaller block also involves the drilling of
the holes (which may be drilled in the direction of ‘rift’ or ‘grain’ or
marble thus taking advantage of ease of splitting ) and then putting in
the wedges and hammering them as described above.

3.7.1 The block so obtained are subsequently dressed by chisels and

hammers SO as to make it perfectly rectangular. Thereafter the blocks
are lifted and loaded in the trucks or bullock carts by means of manually L
operated or machanical crane and transported to the factory for further
processing.
3.8 Quarrying Operations - In this way quarrying of the marble
blocks progresses in depth as well as in the lateral direction by formation
of benches in systetnatic way. AS quarrying operations proceed in
depth, the delineation of the blocks become easier in comparison to the
extension of working in lateral direction. This is because of the fact
that in depth there is almost disappearance of cracks and joints are
prominently visible. Downward extension is also favoured because in
that case marble obtained is of better quality and free from the cracks
and flaws, etc.

6
 IS : 8381- 1977

3.9 Wire Saw Method of Quarrying - Mechanized method of marble

quarrying provides the adoption of the wire saw method which consist
of the 1 or 3 strand ropes of 10 mm diameter which runs as a belt and
cuts by abrasion when fed with sand and water.

4. GRANITE
4.1 Selection df Quarry Site - Granite occurs widely in many states
of the country. However, relatively quite a few of the occurrences have
the qualities, locations or working conditions requisite for adaptability to
industrial use as dimension stone. The selection of suitable quarrying
area is of paramount importance. The out-crops should be examined
very carefully. Examination of rock during or immediately after rains
is useful because hairlines, streaks and knots, etc, are better recognized
under wet conditions. Area chosen for mining should include masses
of rock of even grained uniform texture, attractive colour and relative
freedom from irregular or closely spaced seams and from dykes, knots and
hairlines. These requirements are rigid in the case of stone used as
monumental or architectural polished stone. However, a liberal varia-
tion is permissible in the stone when used for paving blocks, curbing and
unpolished building stone.

4.1.1 Granite hills are very common and in abundance in granite area.
Most of the granite masses are intersected by cracks and joints. The
most favourable condition is one in which the joints are spaced several
metre apart and are in two parallel system approximately at right angle
to each other. If the joints are irregular and closely spaced, then
adequate size of blocks may be unobtainable. Wide spacing of joints is
necessary in case of slabs or big blocks but where ‘ICHAJVDAS’ are
required this is not necessary.
4.2 Making Primary Guts - The primary cuts will separate the
block from the parent mass. For this purpose full advantages of joint
system should be taken. If such natural planes are not available then
cut or fracture may be made by discharging gun powder in drill holes
which should be just enough to cause fracture without causing the
shattering effect.
4.2.1 Primary cuts may be made by drilling and broaching method.
The broaching method consists of drilling of closely spaced deep holes
in straight lines and thereafter web between them may be removed with
a drill or a flat broaching tool substituted for drills. In this way a
narrow continuous channel is made.

4.2.2 A substitute for drilling and broaching method is jet piercing

method. Combustion of oxygen with fuel oil generates temnerature to
the tune of about 2 760°C and SO when water stream joins the flames,
it disintegrates rock into fragments. This method is very fast in
comparison to drilling method.
7
IS t 8381.1977

4.2.3 Use of wire saw equipment is the latest method for making
primary cuts. This equipment consists of three strand or single strand
wire that runs as belt under tension and when fed with cutting agent
like granular aluminium oxide along with stream of water, it cuts a
narrow channel by abrasion.

4.4 Floor Breaking - After a primary cut is made the next step is to
separate the block from the bottom. For this purpose natural horizontal
parting planes are of great assistance but in their absence or under the
circumstances of wide spacing floor breaks may be made by driving
wedges in horizontal drill holes at the base of block. In this way a large
block may be separated from the parent mass.

4.5 Subdivision of Block - The next step is to subdivide the block

into the convenient sizes and shapes. In this process natural splitting
directions of the rock should be taken into account. Usually two direc-
tions for easy splitting are available which are at right angle to one
another. Out of these two directions, one direction is more pronounced
for easy splitting which is known as ‘rift’ while other is called as ‘run’
or ‘grain’. For obtaining splitting easily and for getting smooth
surfaces, the major fractures are made in the direction of rift or grain.
However, in granite these may not always be pronounced. The holes
of about 10 cm depth and several centimetres apart are drilled along a
line where break is desired. The break is made by driving plug and
feather’ wedges in the hole. The feather consists of two iron strips flat
on one side for contact with wedge and curved on the other to fit the
wall of drill hole. They are placed in the hole and the plug ( a steel
wedge ) is ~placed between them. They are sledged lightly in succession
until a fracture appears. Thus block is sub-divided in the smaller
desired sizes which are transported to processing mill where processing
is carried out.

5. TRAP
5.1 Selection of Quarry Site - Trap is amply used as building stone
under the trade name ‘black stone’. For selecting quarry, outcrops
should be examined carefully. The rock is usually characterized by two *
or more sets of joints. Irregular joints are also common. It is also
characterized by flow structure. Flows of different varieties, such as
massive, amygdaloidal and porphyrite are common. Tbe weathering in
trap area is generally more.

5.2 To establish the quarry in trap rock, it is essential to remove the

overburden and weathered zone present at the top. Then a face is
developed for better quarry operation. Hole may be drilled to ascer-
tain depth and weathering and fresh rock from the surface. For
obtaining big size blocks in trap, it is advisable to do the biasting with
moderate charge as the rock is characterized by the presence of block

8
 IS : 8381- 1977

joints. These blocks are commonly used as rubble and face stones in
the construction of masonry dams, bridge piers, etc. Similar fragments
which remain at quarry are utilized in rozk works as chips aggregates
for pitching rip-rap, etc. Trap can be crushed or broken to small
pieces of required size in order to obtain aggregates. Big blocks obtained
from quarry can he made to size for using them as guard and boundar)
stones. This rock is not easily dressable due to its jointed nature.

6. LIMESTONE

6.1 Selection of Quarry Site - The requisite qualities which are

essential for limestonc to be used as dimension stone are its compactness,
easy workability, uniformity in texture and attractive colour. Deposits
with irregular or closely spaced joints are unsuitable because large blocks
free from cracks or line of weakness are demanded. A deposit should
be capable of furnishing rectangular blocks few metres in length and
width with suitable thickness and free from cracks.
6.2 Overburden Removal - The quarrying of limestone is compara-
tively easier because usually the deposits are approximately flat inclined
with moderate thickness. As usual the first step in quarrying is the
removal of non-commercial rock. Planning should be done so as to
preserve important areas and accordingly waste may be dumped at
suitable distance by power shovels, dumpers or other earth moving
equipments.
6.3 Primary Cuts - Next step is with regard to making the primary
cuts. In smaller quarries with relative thin limestone beds, the primary
breaks may be obtained by blasting gun powder in drill ho&. Subse-
quent break may be obtained by wedging action, however, at times light
blasting may also be needed. In large quarries the primary cut may be
done’ with a channeling machine which operates with choping action
similar to that of a reciprocating drill and cuts a channel or narrow
trench of about 5 cm or so.
6.4 A Porbander Stone - A miliolite limestone is amenable to cutting
by an axe, and blocks of size 35 x 55 X 20 cm are common.
6.5 Bed Lifting - Bed lifting or the separation of the block from the i
bottom is done by drilling the holes and subsequentiy use of wedges. A
series of~holes are drilled in which wedges are driven in and hammered
in succession until a flour break is made. Ln this way a big block of the
limestone is separated from the parent mass.
6.6 Block Subdivision - Subdivision of the block into desired sizes
is made by drilling and then using wedges as described above. These
are hoisted and transported to stacking yard.
6.7 Scabbling - The blocks may be scabbled at the yard or at quarry
site. Scabbling is the process of trimming the block to uniform rectangu-
lar shape. Scabbling picks or chisels and hammers are commonly used
to remove all ~irregularities.
It
IS : 838111977

7. SAND STONE
7.1 The quarrying of sandstone is similar to that of Iimestone. Natural
joints usually in two or more systems characterize m&t sand stone
deposits.

7.2 For undertaking quarrying operations, overburden is removed first,

subsequently primary cuts are made, block is lifted from bottom and
then subdivided by drilling and wedging actions. While blasting care
is to be taken that just enough gun-powder is used to develop a fracture
only. The various steps of quarrying are almost similar to that as
described for limestone.

8. CRUSHED/BROKEN/NATURAL STONE
8.0 Several types of stones are used for this purpose. The principal
varieties of stones used for production of crushed and broken stone are
limestone, granite sandstone, gneiss, quartzite, trap, etc.

8.1 Quarrying - Quarries are either located in hills or on ground.

Usually the crushed and broken stone is mined by open pit method. If
beds are flat lying and relatively thin, the pit should be enlarged laterally
while in thick beds, deeper and narrower quarries may be developed
which involve less extensive stripping. If the beds dip at steep
angles, the quarry may be worked to considerable depth but removal of
waste rock to avoid a dangerous overhang involves increasing expenses
as the quarry is deepened. Sometimes dewatering problems too are
involved. In case of boulders, gravel and sand available in*the river bed,
the water current if any is directed and also ring bands if required are
constructed, the quarrying is done up to a limited depth as permitted.

8.2 The quarrying and processing operations consists of removal of

inferior rock from the surface of a deposit, drilling the holes, blasting
the rock with heavy charge of explosives, loading of broken stone,
conveying the rock to crusher and sizing the crushed product with
various types of stone. The quarrying and processing operations are
also done by means of crowbars, hammers and wedges only where .
fissured rock or only big size boulders are available.

8.3 The weathered rock overburden may be removed by drilling holes,

blasting the rock and using the shovels, bull dozers, etc. The holes may
be drilled with compressed air hammer drills. The choice of explosives
depends somewhat on the use to which the stone is to be put. High
grade explosives may be used where extreme fragmentation is desired.
In preparing stone for lime burning or in any crushed forms where fines
are undesirable, explosives with a high rate of detonation are not used
in it. Using the appropriate explosive, the stone is blasted loaded into
trucks or loaders, and then transported to stacking yard.

10
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
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