Marble Quarrying: An Energy And Waste
Intensive Activity In The Production
Of Building Materials
Author(s)
V. Liguori, G. Rizzo & M. Traverso
Abstract
Marble represents an important component of Italian buildings, where it is often
utilized as a covering for bottom surfaces, despite its relatively high price.
Moreover, it characterizes several public buildings, for which it is by far the
most important decorative material, also because of its structural features and its
long durability. Unfortunately, marble quarrying is an energy intensive activity
that requires relevant amounts of electric and thermal energy sources; in
addition, the extraction of the marble blocks from the mountain sides does
involve a noticeable quantity of explosives, particularly in sites where traditional
working methods are utilized. Another important feature of the marble mining is
represented by the high level of waste materials released during the quarrying
process. Both these elements call for careful attention to the production of this
material, aiming for a suitable reduction of the environmental impact exerted by
the current working procedures. An energy audit analysis, moreover, could allow
the singling out of the steps of the whole process where it would be possible to
reach improved efficiency, in this way properly cutting the energy resources
involved in the production of the functional unit of this natural stone. The
feasibility of such considerations is verified by means of an application to a
marble quarry in Sicily, the region where an important rate of the Italian
domestic production is realized. The field energy audit, other than suggesting a
general approach to the problem, does indicate the high inefficiencies actually
present in the working chain of the Sicilian marble.
Keywords: marble, life cycle assessment, energy and environmental audits,
embodied energy, eco-indictors.
Keywords
marble, life cycle assessment, energy and environmental audits,
embodied energy, eco-indictors.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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