what is a quarry

A quarry is a type of open-pit mine where rocks, sand, gravel, or minerals are extracted from the ground. Quarries are often used to cut stone from the ground in large pieces or blocks, which are called dimension stones. These stones are used for building things, and some quarries fill with water to make small lakes when they are no longer being used for mining. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to manage their safety risks and reduce their environmental impact. Types of rock extracted from quarries include chalk, china clay, cinder, clay, coal, construction aggregate (sand and gravel), coquina, diabase, gabbro, granite, gritstone, gypsum, limestone, marble, ores, phosphate rock, quartz, sandstone, slate, and travertine. Many quarry stones such as marble, granite, limestone, and sandstone are cut into larger slabs and removed from the quarry. The surfaces are polished and finished with varying degrees of sheen or luster. Polished slabs are often cut into tiles or countertops and installed in many kinds of residential and commercial properties. Natural stone quarried from the earth is often considered a luxury and tends to be a highly durable surface, thus highly desirable.