With a total of 15 quarries in three countries, Solubema of Vila Vicosa, Portugal, has established itself as a large stone producer for projects worldwide. Stone World had the opportunity to visit one of the company’s oldest marble quarries in Portugal, which spans 900 square meters wide and 85 meters deep. The quarry has been in operation since 1928 and 90% of its production is commercial blocks.
A total of 110 workers are at the quarry, and they produce 900 cubic meters of stone annually. The quarry is primarily marble, with schist in the middle. The marble varies in four shades — white, cream, champagne and salmon — and contains more pink hues the closer it is to the mica schist because of its iron oxide. The marble in this part of the quarry also is stronger and can be cut into larger blocks.