The Study of Dichinama Marble Waste and Its Utilization in Tigray Ethiopia

Abstract

According to the present industrialized methods for marble quarry mining, the extraction, drilling, cutting, polishing, handling, and processing of marble continuously produce a significant amount of waste, both direct and indirect, which causes financial losses for the business and environmental problems. No research has been done on how the mining operations at the Dichinama marble mining site of Saba Dimensional Stone PLC in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia produce distinct kinds of waste. This research study aims to understand the marble mining process better, pinpoint areas where current methods and procedures are hindered, and implement corrective measures such as reusing marble wastes and generating economic benefits parallel with minimizing negative environmental effects. This study suggests a few products that the dimensional stone industries now produce from waste marble. However, more research is necessary to determine whether the producing products would be economically feasible or not. To protect the negative environmental effects, we have discussed and highlighted several marble waste appropriate uses, such as the production of construction material, decorative uses, filler and powder, applications in agriculture and the environment, as an alternative to limestone and creative items.