Granite Introduction Part 2 – Extraction and Processing

Extraction:

Many principles that we mentioned in earlier posts while introducing Marble and Travertine mining also apply here. Common methods of granite extraction can be listed as wire sawing, drilling, blasting, jet cutting, where the former is the most common. After initial cutting/loosening, the large blocks are removed by wedges, shims, which are then reduced to more manageable, smaller size blocks. Finally they are loaded into trucks for final processing in plants.

Processing:

Again, similar methods of processing apply here, as the ones discussed during Travertine and Marble introduction. These are mainly cutting polishing and finishing operations. Cutting is done mainly by wires or saws, which further reduces the granite blocks into slabs or even smaller size blocks for fine cutting is necessary. Polishing involves using abrasive materials to obtain a shiny smooth polished surface. Further finishing is also performed on an as needed basis, as per specific project requirements.