The Valencia and Galicia Regions are the sector´s biggest exporters: Natural stone exports exceed € 1 billion in 2007
According to the report “Comercio Exterior del sector de la piedra natural en España” (Foreign trade in Spain´s natural stone sector), drawn up by the OMPN

[+] Read More

Natural stone extraction doubled
Brazil is indisputably a world power in today’s natural stone sector. Between 2000 and 2005, Brazil exactly doubled its extraction of natural stone from 2.25 million cubic metres to 4.50 million cubic metres. In terms of volume, this increased its share of global rough block production from 3.8 to 5.3 per cent.

[+] Read More

Italy in 4th position – Russia is the market of the future

The major players in the natural stone markets have dramatically changed in a short space of time. Italy as main producer and Germany as main customer have been replaced by China and the USA respectively. Other countries have long been in the fast lane.

[+] Read More

3. GENERAL FEATURES OF THE TYPES OF LIMESTONES QUARRIED
Rocks classified as limestones, that have been referred to here, although chemically similar to those classified as marbles and in which the most common fundamental component is also the mineral calcite, are distinguished from the later ones in genetic and textural terms. In fact, while limestones

[+] Read More

2.2.4. Fátima
The potential in this region lies in two distinct geological units: the Fátima unit, dating from the Bathonian age, and the Moleanos unit, dating from the Callovian age. The quarrying industry is confined to two quarries in the Fátima unit, at the township of Casal Farto.

[+] Read More

1. INTRODUCTION
This article talks about the main ornamental limestone producing areas in Portugal. This is not an exhaustive study, but will present the current geological understanding of each of the areas and the fundamental features of the raw materials quarried in them.

[+] Read More