Optimizing ornamental stone quarrying and commercial exploitation through sedimentological and UAV-based 3D modelling

Quarrying ornamental stone involves extracting lithoid materials that are often variably fractured and heterogeneous, resulting in commercial products of different qualities. This variability poses challenges in planning and managing efficient quarrying processes. Traditionally, efforts have prioritized extracting the most commercially valuable materials, often neglecting less profitable portions of the deposit. Over time, such practices can lead to safety risks and environmental issues, including complications in restoring and integrating the landscape post-extraction. Sedimentological studies in quarries, particularly facies analysis, offer valuable tools for identifying high-value lithotypes during the initial stages of site development. This supports the creation of effective mining plans that optimize resource use, enhance occupational safety, and address environmental considerations, including post-quarry landscape integration. Adopting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) combined with accurate Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) surveys facilitates the development of high-resolution 3D terrain models with centimeter-level accuracy. When integrated with detailed photographic data using specialized software, these models simplify the application of facies analysis, enabling precise estimation of the location and volume of lithofacies of commercial interest. This integrated methodology improves extraction efficiency, reduces operational costs, and promotes more sustainable quarrying practices. This study demonstrates the experimental application of this approach at the Poggio la Vecchia quarry in the municipality of Manciano (Grosseto Province). Here, the Manciano Sandstone, commercially known as “Pietra Santafiora,” is extracted, showcasing the potential for sustainable resource exploitation through advanced sedimentological and modeling techniques.