Technological properties and geology of marble quarries of Elmali (Antalya) region and its rehabilitation

Marble which is among the important building materials is a metamorphic rock formed by recrystallization of the rocks such as limestone, calcareous dolomite under a certain temperature and pressure as a result of metamorphism. There are important marble quarries between Hacıyusuflar, Bayındır, Çobanisa and İkizler villages at the north of Elmalı district of Antalya province. The rock units belonging Beydağları autochthonous and Lykia Nappes exist in the region including the study area. Therefore, the mentioned units differ by their stratigraphic, lithological and structural features. The scope of this study is to determine the rehabilitation can be conducted in consequence of determination of the working principle and the method of taking block in the quarries of Elmalı region. The amount of marble taken from the region (Elmalı, Lycian Beige quarry) is around 20,000 m3 in a year. The marble extraction process starts from the top of the mountain and proceeds downwards. The process is conducted with cutting the mirror with 45o angle. In this process, 3 demolition processes can be conducted and extracted at the same time and in addition to the cutting one by one, 7-8 demolitions can be conducted as well. After the hardness of the diamond beads has been adjusted, the wires are passed through the drilling hole and they are combined in the middle. Thus cutting process is started. The wires that are used to cut the marble are formed by diamond beads, springs, steel and rings. While the cutting operation is being conducted, the marble that has become a block is separated from the mountain more easily by the machine that works with help of hydraulic principle. The blocks that are cut off and taken away from the mountain are transported to the weighing machine with help of the caterpillar buckets to weigh. Rehabilitation works are conducted by considering all environmental and geological factors and the damage that may occur during and after the operation of the mine.