Extraction activities in 5000 B.C.
The first extraction techniques date back to the Neolithic period (5000 B.C.): the stone was extracted mainly with the use of sticks and picks. Around 3000 B.C., in Egypt, a new technique was adopted and it was still used until a short time ago in small caves without modern equipment. It consisted of inserting some wooden wedges into the cracks of rocky walls. Once they were wet, their volume increased and with their pressure they caused the rocks to come apart. This method was used in ancient times also by the Romans. Another technique consisted of inserting iron wedges by hitting them on the top with heavy sticks. At the beginning of the 18th century the use of explosives developed: dynamite was inserted into underground passages inside the rocks. This provoked a big quantity of stones to fall down. However this procedure resulted to be disadvantageous due to the excessive waste of material. It also resulted dangerous for workers.
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From the Multimedia section
Facts
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Volcanic activity of Vesuvio
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Mountains on the Earth
The different landscapes that we analysed in the previous section are distributed...
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An artificial geyser
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Laterite and bauxite deposits
These deposits can be observed in those tropical areas that are characterized by...
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13 May 2011
Volcanic eruptions
The activity of some volcanoes is characterized by violent explosions...
Volcanic activity of Vesuvio
One of the most famous volcanic disasters was the eruption of Vesuvio in 79 A.D....
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Mountains on the Earth
The different landscapes that we analysed in the previous section are distributed...
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24 February 2011
And in underground tunnels?
There are groups of terrestrial animals that eat insects, worms and other invertebrates...
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13 May 2011
Volcanic eruptions
The activity of some volcanoes is characterized by violent explosions...
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Volcanic activity of Vesuvio
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