Natural Stone Quarrying in Australia and Its Maintenance Guidelines

From the marble or stone quarries, we get a complete range of marble or other natural stone products such as raw marble/stone blocks, unpolished and polished slabs, marble tiles, monumental and furniture products etc. Marble or granite slabs and engineering stones are used for the manufacture of stone furniture like kitchen benchtops, worktops, bars, bathroom vanities and monument items and so on.

In Australia, sandstone was commonly quarried by the late 1800’s and used in large structures such as bridges and public buildings due to its strength, durability, availability and beauty. Quarrying was temporarily stopped during World War II, but around 40 years later in the late 1980’s stone not only experienced resurgence as a popular, structural building material, but a practical and attractive choice for interiors and furniture also.

Over the past 20 years, the popularity of marble and other natural stones have continued to grow in Australia, encouraging the resurgence of the quarrying industry. The trend continues today with architects combining the beauty of natural stone with imaginative designs to create magnificent effects both inside and outside.

Australia has significant deposits of natural stone and so there are many operating quarries in different parts of the country. The texture, colour and character of each type of stone vary from quarry to quarry depending on the minerals in that area and the physical environment. These differences allow for more variety when designing interiors and choosing stone.

Given Below Are Some of the Main Operating Quarries in Australia:

Western Australia: Marble is quarried in Maroonah and granite is quarried in the Fraser Ranges, Esperance, Jerramungup, Bruce Rock and Watheroo. We get  limestone in Moore River, Seabird and Postans where as sandstone is quarried in Donnybrook, Karratha and Mount Jowlaenga. Some stones are also quarried from the Ord Ranges and Mount Barker.

Queensland: Sandstone is quarried in Helidon, Murphy’s Creek, Warwick and Beaudesert.

South Australia: Granite is quarried in Wallaroo, Streaky Bay and Black Hill, slate in Mintaro and limestone in Waikeri and Ramco. In Victoria granite is quarried in Benambra and sandstone in the Grampians.

New South Wales: Granite is quarried in Tocwal, Dundee and Gosford.

Northern Territory: Granite is quarried in Tennant Creek.

Quarrying methods vary depending on the type of stone being quarried and the equipment available. Quarry operators look for natural joints in the stone, so they can split it and cut it to size. Explosives are often used with great expertise, so blocks can be obtained in required sizes.

In the case of granite, large blocks are removed from the ground deposits using explosives. When quarrying marble, operators must be very careful not to shatter the stone so they use machines that channel through the stone rather than explosives. Sandstone is removed using an excavator or crowbar, or is split using metal rods and plugs. The metal strips are placed in the holes and the plugs are hammered between the strips, which splits the rock.

Once the stone has been removed from the quarry, it is transported using heavy duty trucks and machinery to a processing area where it is cut into slabs - the size and thickness that the slab will be cut to will depend on its final use.

After cutting, the slabs are ready for use unless further enhancement is required, such as planing, profiling, texturing, polishing or honing. In this case, specialised saws, some incorporating computer technology, are used to create a variety of shapes, designs and surface finishes. Some pieces requiring more detail are crafted by a stonemason.

Natural Stone Maintenance Needs

Though marble and stone are very durable, over time all stone surfaces can become damaged in some way. But you need not to worry as The Marble Man has highly qualified technicians who can Repair and Restore your marble or stone floors, benchtops and bathrooms so that they look like new again.

Started in 1992 by Shaun Roberts, The Marble Man has eventually emerged as Australia's number one marble, granite, travertine, stone benchtop and tile restoration Company. The Marble Man undertakes polishing, sealing, cleaning and repairing of all stone surfaces using state-of-the-art and safe technology to produce amazing results. We give great importance to aesthetics and strive hard to enhance your home decor. 

We operate in Northern NSW, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra and other areas throughout Qld and NSW. If you would like us to inspect your stone and give you free advice on its repair or restoration, an experienced technician will visit at a time convenient to you and provide a no obligation, free quote. Call our office today on 1300 627 626 or email us to book your onsite evaluation.