Performance analysis of a dimension stone exploitation with chain saw cutting machines: the “Penna dei Corvi” quarry case study

Dimension stone exploitation is one of the most important activities in the field of raw materials in Italy. In particular, the Tuscany region is famous worldwide for its marble. This study arises from the need of investigating the behaviour of a chain saw cutting machine used to cut the marble at the “Penna dei Corvi” quarry in the municipality of Vagli Sotto (LU), where the quarrymen met severe advancement problems of the machine due to the interaction of the chain saw machine's tools with the rock. A series of laboratory analyses were then performed to investigate and understand the excavated material's behaviour, characteristics, and properties to solve the problem of zero productivity found on that site. The analysis was drawn up through the study of thin sections via a petrographic analysis, the evaluation of local microhardness, the determination of the abrasiveness of the excavated material through the CERCHAR abrasivity test, and with a test campaign for the study of the metal wear in conditioned material. Moreover, chemical analyses were carried out in order to understand the structure and the composition of the chain saw's tools employed for the cutting operations.