The processing materials and the processed material (sand) are moved in and out of the quarry through the following means;
1) Hydraulic or water transport
2) Belt Conveyor
3) Pale Loaders and Dumpers / Tippers
Hydraulic transport
This form the basis for the entire quarry operation from the dredger to the turntable where dewatering takes place. Water serves as an important solvent for dissolving the sand and transporting it.
The borehole and mine pit serves as sources of water since the entire quarry operation depends absolutely on water. The water dredged with the sand is used in conveying the sand through the pipelines, is recycled to the mine – pit while the process depends on water from the borehole for the bulk of water needed.
In cases of insufficient supply of water, blockage of pipelines results and leads to downing of plant for flushing to be carried out. In severe cases, 4 – 5 hrs are lost. This gives room for adequate supply of water.
Belt conveyor
The uses of the belt conveyor is owing to the nature of materials being transported. Actually, the output depends on the angle of inclination. For example an angle of inclination of 100 to 200 decreases the output by 3 to
Uses of reject sand
The reject sand are obtained in three different discharge points. The “rice gravel” are basically conglomerate this is separated at the mesh vibrator. It is used by builders and when mixed with cement is used in pouring the lintel of buildings, is a substitute for granite.
The second category of reject is got at the screen house and are used with cement in block moulding and also in bonding of blocks. It is known as the sharp sand. It is also used in sand-filling and reclamation works.
The last category of reject is the smooth sand which is separated at the floatex separator and it consists of fine grain of sand particles. It is used for plastering of houses.
The unique thing about the reject is that they are sold out to end users and also at subsidized rate to workers.
Mine and its environment
Desecration of the landscape by strip mining and quarrying has long been the object of protests. Subsurface mining may have more serious effects on surface environment than environmentally regulated strip – mining.
The problems are many, ranging from control of erosion of spoil bank to the restoration of farmlands uprooted by mining operations. As an indication of the complexity of the reclamation effort now underway, restoration of land so per acre. This includes such items as cultivation, fertilization, permanent drainage and restoration of ditches, fences and roads. This list is a good indicator of the varied operation necessary to return the mined land to its original state.
Soil erosion and conservation
The surrounding of the mine pit are affected by gradual wearing and washing away by erosion. This causes sediments to flow into the mine pit. Most of the areas of the mine pit showing the presence of “silt” almost all of it was once topsoil grazing the land by the mine pit, the soil in which vegetation large and small had its roots.
Vegetation cushions the impact of rain reaching the ground. It is only the vegetation lacking through the effect of dredging that erosion has become serious.
Restoration of land
The bulk of mining operation in the mine pit necessitated disturbance in the ground. If nature can be utilized as to restore the conditions originally disturbed and in some cases, the only practicable solution. The problem is more serious where dredged material has to be deposited on land.
The main aims of restoration and rehabilitation are to reduce the risk of water pollution to restore the land and landscape to improve the aesthetics of the area and to prevent further degradation. The resulting condition poses minimal risk of people and the environment both in the short term and long term.
