Last year, Tab India began extracting Supreme Black granite from a new quarry site in India, and it is currently extracting gangsaw-sized blocks on a commercial scale. According to the company, the material is one of the premium blacks in India - with a very dark color, characterized by a fine/closed grain.
Less than one year ago, Tab India started extracting material that it reports to be the darkest black available in India and possibly the world. “The granite comes from one of the most difficult quarrying areas, where getting large block sizes has traditionally been a big problem, hence other quarries have stayed away from that area,” stated the company. “However, with modern machines and state-of-the-art quarrying technology, Tab has already started commercial production of large gangsaw-sized blocks from this quarry for more than six months. Tab India, which was already a known powerhouse from India in natural stones, especially in black granites, has an added feather in its cap with this quarry.”
“The granite comes from one of the most difficult quarrying areas, where getting large block sizes has traditionally been a big problem, hence other quarries have stayed away from that area,” stated the company. “However, with modern machines and state-of-the-art quarrying technology, Tab has already started commercial production of large gangsaw-sized blocks from this quarry for more than six months.”
The quarry falls in the natural “Dolorite Dyke” geological region, which Tab reports contains some of the best black granite varieties in India. “Black granite comes from these types of dykes and traditionally these dykes are not larger than 25 meters in width,” stated the company. “However, the initial deposit of Tab’s quarry has an exposed 55-meter width of deposit. The quarry is more than 20 acres large with current quarrying being worked on in a 250-meter length and 55-meter width. The quarry has a reserve/deposit of more than 500,000 cubic meters, out of which at least 40% is recoverable commercially. This means that at least 200,000 cubic meters can be produced - half of which is large gangsaw-sized blocks and half is for cut-to-size, medium-sized slabs and tiles.”
The quarry is currently producing about 250 cubic meters of blocks per month. However, with the company introducing more mechanization at the site, this quantity should go up to 500 cubic meters per month before the end of 2009.
The quarry is currently producing about 250 cubic meters of blocks per month. However, with the company introducing more mechanization at the site, this quantity should go up to 500 cubic meters per month before the end of 2009.
Tab India is currently using two Hitachi excavators (each with a 35-ton capacity), four wire saws, six Taurus trucks, air compressors and a range of hydraulic tools, such as jackhammers and drilling rigs. Proposed additions include a derrick crane with a 40-meter span and a 20-meter lift, and a gantry crane with a 20-meter span and 7-meter lift to stock, load and transport blocks on a 250-meter track. Power pullers are operated by hydraulic power for easy removal of blocks from the “parent rock,” and front loaders allow for easy shifting of blocks.
The quarry falls in the natural “Dolorite Dyke” geological region, which Tab reports contains some of the best black granite varieties in India.
Commitment to the environment
Tab India is an ISO 9001:2000 certified company by TUV of Germany and is also undergoing certification for “contributing towards environment and society.” With this in mind, Tab is incorporating all of the green techniques of production and preservation at the quarries as well. The quarries utilize electricity-based extraction machines and compressors as opposed to diesel fuel, which reduces/eliminates air pollution. The company has also developed enough trees and plantation around and in the quarry to set off any additional pollution caused due to quarrying. The quarry uses an imported non-explosive agent from Crackamite of the U.S. instead of using the traditional blasting methods, which not only improves production at the quarry, but also eliminates any health hazards for the quarry workers. The use of wire saws to extract the blocks from the “parent rock” also increases the production versus the traditional system.
The quarry has a reserve/deposit of more than 500,000 cubic meters, out of which at least 40% is recoverable commercially. This means that at least 200,000 cubic meters can be produced - half of which is large gangsaw-sized blocks and half is for cut-to-size, medium-sized slabs and tiles.”
As part of its social corporate responsibility towards society, Tab has adopted a school in the nearby village for children from underprivileged families, and it is providing for their education expenses.
All workers inside the quarry are trained to use all personal protection devices such as helmets, safety glasses, ear plugs, industrial boots and protective boots, all of which are mandatory for everyone to use.
