Stone Quarry

Stone Quarry. . , Stone was the most important building material used in the powder yards. It was quarried in great quantities for mills, race walls, barriers, dams, and foundations. Many small quarries like this one were opened on the property as stone was needed., BLASTING. , Stone was dislodged from the quarry wall by exploding gunpowder in holes drilled by the quarrymen., DRILLING: Holes for powder charges were formed by steel drills which ground the stone into dust. Several holes were required ranging from 18 to 36 inches deep. The drill was struck by either a sledge hammer or a one-hand hammer (A). A sledge hammer weighted [sic] about eight pounds and was swung in both hands while another person held the drill and turned it after each blow. In single-hand drilling one man held the drill and struck it with a hammer of about three pounds., SHOOTING: Blasting powder, a large-grained, mild explosive was used to dislodge stone intended for building purposes since its explosive force did not shatter the stone (B). The powder was poured into the hole. After a safety fuse was set into powder, rags and dried clay were tamped in firmly with a wooden stick, then the fuse was lit., SHAPING. , Newly blasted stone was cut into sizes suitable for building purposes. Large stone was worked in place using "plugs and feathers” while small stone was squared with chisels at the stone cutters bench., Large stone was examined for the best "line of cut” to obtain the needed sizes with the least waste. Next a series of shallow holes about 4 inches deep was drilled along the chosen line about 6 inches apart. Into each hole were placed 2 half-round iron "feathers” with an iron wedge or "plug” set between. Hammering each plug in turn created extreme pressure, causing the stone to break along the chosen line (C). Stones cut in this manner still display the drill holes used for the plugs and feathers., Small stone was worked into usable building form at the stonecutter's bench (D). Here the craftsman would use a one-hand hammer and chisels to shape the stone into desired sizes.