Human Interaction with the Rock
Cycle
5th year Geography
Learning Outcome
• Identify the economic value and uses of Rocks
• Examine Human Interaction with the Rock
Cycle during the process of Quarrying
Economic Value of Rocks
• Recreation; Hill walking, Climbing
• Tourism; Burren
• Decorative Pieces; Fireplaces, Headstones,
Worktops
• Construction Materials; Gravel, Limestone
• Metals; Lead, Zinc, Gold
• Energy Source; Coal, Oil, Gas, Geothermal
Uses of Certain Rocks
Rock
Use
Basalt
Road Chippings
Sand
Glass
Limestone
Fertiliser
Slate
Roofing
Coal/Oil
Heating
China Clay
Pottery
Quarrying
• Important Resources
• Construction Industry
• Granite, Limestone and Marble are the most
common rocks quarried in Ireland
What is Quarrying?
• Removal of Rocks from the Earths Surface
• 400 active quarries in Ireland
• In recent year with the improved
developments in infrastructure in Ireland,
there has been an increased demand for
quarried materials
•
Chapter 5: The Rock Cycle
Methods of quarrying
I. Plug and feather
 drilling holes
 split the rock
 extracting large pieces, e.g. floor
covering
II. Explosive
 extracting large and small pieces of
rock
III. Channelling
 machinery cuts large slices of rock
 metamorphic rock such as marble
5: The Rock Cycle
Positive impactsChapter
of quarrying
 Direct employment
 Construction
 Indirect employment
Chapter
5: The Rock Cycle
Negative impacts
of quarrying
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Visual pollution
Noise pollution
Heavy machinery damage to infrastructure
Dust pollution
Water pollution
Disused quarries
Case Study; Carrara Marble
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Tuscany, Italy
White or blue-grey marble
Used since the time of ancient Rome
Statue of David – Michelangelo
Exported all around the world
Construction of buildings
Warm countries
Reflect light
Create an air of coolness
Major Case Study
• Tara Mines, Co Meath.
Homework
• Pg 59 – 61
• Q; 1, 6, 7, 10
• In Exercise Copy