DETERMINING THE RECOVERY RATE OF DICHINAMA MARBLE (LIDGE MARIAM) QUARRY SITE AT NORTHWESTERN ZONE, TIGRAI, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Marble Quarrying is the most challenging operation from the Dimensional stone Quarry Categories. It is highly affected by geological discontinuities which affects the quality of the Marble blocks such as, micro and macro fractures, joints, cavities, mudstones, and contact zones). In this study a total 135 samples of primary volume cut and its recovered volume cut were collected from the Marble Quarry site and from geology and quality control service officer of the Saba Dimensional Stone PLC to determine the recovery rate (percentage) of the Dichinama (Lidge Mariam) Quarry Site and a statistical software of SPSS version 20 were used to show the result of the recovery percentage of the Quarry site. The recoverable percentage in this study is calculated in bench wise and also as total of the Marble Quarry site as a result recovery rate from the four benches and overburden cuttings are; in the first bench 25.84%, second bench 38.93%, third bench 31.97%, fourth bench 52.96%, and from the overburden 23.49% and the total recovery rate of the Marble Quarry site is 35.72%. The resulted recovery rate becomes a handy tool for Mining Engineers to work out plan for production schedule to the next before the actual Quarry operation is presented.