Abstract
This article provides a brief and scientific overview of marble extraction methods worldwide and in Iran, the new technologies used (machinery, automation, and cutting tools), and examples of advanced mines and units. The aim is to show the process of industrialization and innovation in reducing waste, increasing block quality, and respecting safety and the environment. MDPIGlobal Market Insights Inc.
۱. Introduction and industrial importance of marble
Marble (or commercial marble) is an important decorative and building stone used in blocks, slabs and cladding. Leading countries in marble mining and processing include Italy (Carrara), Greece (Thassos), Turkey (Ofion, Denizli), Iran and India. The natural stone industry is now combined with extensive mechanization, special cutting machinery and numerical control systems to increase productivity and product quality. Lithos Designthassosmarble.comKURABI MARBLE
۲. Traditional methods and the transition to mechanized methods
- Traditional methods: controlled drilling and blasting, pen use, and hand carving (on a small scale or historical extractions).
- Modern methods: diamond wire cutting, diamond circular saws, multi-wire saws, CNC machines for cutting and polishing, hydrosplitting and block lifting and handling equipment. The main advantage of diamond wire methods is reduced waste (higher slab yield) and precise cutting with minimal cracks and waste. MDPIhusqvarnaconstruction.com
۳. Today’s key technologies and equipment
۳.۱ (Diamond wire saw)
Diamond wires are now the most widely used method of block extraction in marble quarries — since its emergence in Carrara, many traditional quarries have migrated to diamond wires. Diamond wires provide clean cuts, less waste, and the ability to cut large sizes. The growth of the diamond wire equipment market is also impressive, indicating industry investment in this technology. carraramarbletour.itGlobal Market Insights Inc.
۳.۲ Gangsaw / multiwire saws
In block processing workshops for slab production, multi-wire machines and gang saws still play a role. Comparisons show that multi-wire has the advantage of reducing waste and being adaptable to higher value blocks; gang saws may be more economical in some cases. dinosawmachine.com
۳.۳ CNC, Robots and Numerical Control
Post-processing, precision cutting, and decorative milling are performed by CNC machines. Some wire cutting and cable cutting equipment now operates under numerical control (CNC) and with feedback sensors to increase accuracy, repeatability, and automation. This is critical for producing custom architectural pieces and reducing human intervention. dinosawmachine.com
۳.۴ Drilling and block handling systems
Heavy cranes, custom-built excavators with block-lifting forks, heavy trucks, and hydraulic anchoring systems are used to move large blocks. The use of sensors and condition monitoring systems (IoT) is expanding in some advanced mines to track equipment and optimize logistics (a general trend in the mining industry). MDPI
۴. Benefits and challenges of new technologies
Benefits: Reduced waste, increased cutting efficiency, improved surface quality, increased human safety (reduced hazardous work), and the ability to produce high value-added products. MDPI
Challenges: High capital cost to purchase and maintain diamond and CNC equipment, need for skilled labor, risk of wire breakage or rapid consumption of consumables (diamonds), and environmental issues (cutting water waste, landscape changes) that need to be managed. The equipment market is also competitive and there are many specialized companies operating in this field. Global Market Insights Inc.husqvarnaconstruction.com
۵. Outstanding global examples (case study)
A) Carrara — Italy (Carrara)
۵. Outstanding global examples (case study)
b) Thassos – Greece (Thassos)
Pure white Thassos marble is known for its purity of color; quarry companies in Thassos use water-cooled wire saws and modern workshop equipment to produce quality blocks and slabs. haritopoulos-marble.grthassosmarble.com
c) Türkiye — Afyon and Denizli regions
Turkey has a large share of the world’s marble and travertine reserves, and large Turkish companies have invested heavily in machinery and production lines; many units are export-oriented and use modern technologies in extraction and processing. Some Turkish government and industry sources have reported a significant share of the country’s reserves and production. KURABI MARBLEAfyon Mermer
۶. Iran’s situation — reserves, key mines, and technologies
Iran is rich in decorative stone reserves (marble, travertine, marbles, and limestones), and Iranian companies and consortiums active in extraction and processing operate numerous mines. A few key points:
- Iranian companies and consortiums have announced that their mines and factories are equipped with advanced machinery (gangsaw, multi-wire, CNC, polishing and cutting equipment) and have significant exports. iranstoneconsortium.comStonestan
- A sample of the country’s quarries: Areas such as Markazi (e.g. the black marble quarries in Khomein according to sources from active companies), Markazi, Isfahan, Yazd and Kerman provinces are well-known stone areas in Iran; many Iranian companies have already invested in upgrading their cutting lines and productivity. (Internal business and company references provide operational information). MGT Stone CoStoneContact
Note: For a detailed list of active mines and the latest status of equipment for each mine in Iran, it is necessary to refer to official reports from the Ministry of Industry/Stone Industries or reports from mining companies; industry sources and company websites publish operational information. iranstoneconsortium.com
۷. Emerging trends and technology outlook
- Automation and Remote Control: Implementation of CNC, automatic controllers for wire cutting and equipment monitoring; this trend will continue to reduce labor costs and increase safety. dinosawmachine.com
- Optimizing Consumables and Recycling Cutting Water: Water recycling systems, filters, and waste management to reduce environmental impact. MDPI
- Increasing use of data and IoT: Sensors to predict failures, optimize cutting, and track blocks in the supply chain. (Global Mining Industry Trends and Advanced Equipment). Global Market Insights Inc.
۸. Technical and management suggestions for marble quarries (especially in Iran)
- Targeted investment in CNC-controlled diamond wires to increase efficiency and block quality. carraramarbletour.itdinosawmachine.com
- Setting up cutting water recycling and waste management systems to comply with environmental standards. MDPI
- Training of human resources in working with CNC and maintaining diamond equipment (reducing downtime and repair costs). dinosawmachine.com
- Partnering with reputable diamond wire and equipment manufacturers (e.g. internationally recognized brands) to access technology and spare parts. husqvarnaconstruction.comGlobal Market Insights Inc.
۹. Conclusion
The global marble mining and processing industry is moving towards more complete mechanization, the widespread use of diamond wires, CNC machines, and automation. These developments have increased efficiency, reduced waste, and produced higher-quality products, but capital costs and the need for skilled labor remain challenges. As a country with rich stone resources, Iran has the capacity to upgrade technology and export; planning for targeted investment in modern equipment and environmental management can increase the added value of Iran’s stone sector. MDPIiranstoneconsortium.com
References (optional — for further reading)
- References (optional — for further reading)
- History and adoption of diamond wire cutting in Carrara (Carrara marble tour / culture). carraramarbletour.itLithos Design
- Company and mine information: Thassos marble (D.N. Haritopoulos S.A.). haritopoulos-marble.grthassosmarble.com
- Türkiye’s status and role in the global marble market and its reserves. KURABI MARBLE
- Diamond wire saw market growth forecast. Global Market Insights Inc.
- Active Iranian companies and consortia: Iran Stone Consortium and Iranian industry resources about equipment and mines. iranstoneconsortium.comStonestan
- Technical resources on saw selection and comparisons (Industry / Specialized Blogs). dinosawmachine.com+1
Initial list (key examples — Iran and International)
| Row | Mine/Company Name | Country / Province | Type (mine/factory/group) | Reported capacity (source unit) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ۱ | Carrara quarries (Apuan Alps) | Italy (Carrara) | Historical Mines Complex | Historical production: about ۲۰۰,۰۰۰ tons/year (reports with higher ranges for the entire region have also been published; see report component differences). | Scientific AmericanBusiness Insider |
| ۲ | Thassos (D.N. Haritopoulos / Thassos White Marble) | Greece (Thassos) | Mine + Factory | ~۵,۰۰۰ m³ blocks/year; slabs: ~۲۰,۰۰۰ m²/year (company) — example of a local producer. | haritopoulos-marble.gr |
| ۳ | Levantina Group | Spain (and global branches) | Multinational mining and processing company | Multinational mining and processing company | levantina.cominfo.levantina.com |
| ۴ | Antolini (Antolini Group) | Italy and International | Natural stone producer and processor | Reports: around ۱,۰۰۰,۰۰۰ m² / year (declared corporate/industrial production figures). | stonepanorama.comantolini.com |
| ۵ | Polycor Inc. | Canada / North America | Owner of several mines and factories | Ownership: ۲۰+ mines and ~20 factories; (aggregate information in company report; total group capacity is mentioned in annual reports). | polycor.com+1 |
| ۶ | Iran Stone Consortium Quarries and Factories | Iran | Consortium (extraction and processing) | Company announcement: ۵ factories and 15 mines in ownership (specific numerical capacity not mentioned on the company’s website). | Iran Stone Consortium |
| ۷ | Pourhassani / Local groups (Iran-Stone / ISCO and similar examples) | Iran | Large manufacturing/stone-cutting companies | Example: Pourhassani/Iranstone Company: More than ۱۰ active mines (company declaration); exact production capacity for each mine varies on the companies’ websites. | iran-stone.com |
| ۸ | Royal Stone Diba and other domestic companies | Iran | Stone trading and manufacturing groups | Introduction and announcement of mining/processing and export activities; capacity information is often included in domestic business profiles. | dibaroyalstone.com |
| ۹ | Marble quarries in Iranian provinces — (Examples: Kohdasht/Gohere, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman) | Iran (various provinces) | Regional marble quarries | Local industry sources provide mine listings; capacities are reported locally and vary. | گروه کارخانجات و معادن سنگ شجرهsangyab.com |
| ۱۰ | Turkish mines and producers (e.g. Afyon, Denizli region producers) | Türkiye | Producer and processor | Country-wide estimate: About 3,000,000 tons of blocks/year and processed slab production capacity ~۱۳ million m²/year (industrial/commercial estimates). | demiraglar.comwww.work-tops.com |
| ۱۱ | Large local Turkish manufacturers (e.g. Delta Marble and export companies) | Türkiye | Extraction and processing | Large companies in the Afyon region announce high production and export capacities (variable numbers and based on company reports). | Delta Marble |
| ۱۲ | Other major global players (examples: national/multinational companies in Spain, Brazil, India) | Spain, Brazil, India and… | Extraction and processing groups | Many major global players have declared high m² or m³ capacity; group figures can be extracted from companies’ annual reports. | Stone Worldstoneupdate.com |
Important points about accuracy and missing data
- Differences in reporting: For things like Carrara, different figures are seen in different sources (e.g. 200k t/yr in scientific sources and sometimes higher estimates in news/economic reports) — the reason could be differences in “geographical scope” (only specific active quarries in a region or all surrounding sites) or “year of sampling”. (Example: Carrara). Scientific AmericanBusiness Insider
- In Iran: General market data (e.g. number of factories and slab production figures) are published by Iranian industry databases: for example, the “Iran Stone Market” report mentions ~۶۰۰۰ factories, of which ~۵۰۰ are modern factories with a production of ~160 million m²/year — this data is useful for estimating the total national capacity. However, the exact capacity of each mine/company is usually stated in the company report or exploitation license, and it is necessary to refer to those documents. iranstone.org
Macro Summary (National Statistics)
- Iran has an annual production of ۱۲ million tons of decorative stone, ranking fourth in the world. Isna
- There are about ۱۳۰۰ quarries and ~۵۰۰۰ factories operating/registered in Iran (Industrial Statistics). imico.org
Selected list of Iranian marble quarries (indicator rows)
Each row: “Mineral name/region — Province — Rock type — Reported capacity (if any) — Reference”
- Dehbid Marble Mine (Chahmorghi and other areas) — Fars Province (Dehbid) — Dehbid Marble (white to cream with veins) — The exact capacity of the mine is not officially reported in public sources; Dehbid is one of the largest and most well-known marble production areas in Iran. dibaroyalstone.com
- Harsin Marble Quarry — Kermanshah Province (Harsin) — White/Light Marble and Commercial Types — Specifications and some advertisements for the sale of slabs and blocks have been published; the numerical capacity of the quarry is reported in local business profiles. IranStoneContactIran Counter
- Adavi Marble Mine (Khor and Biabanak) — Isfahan Province (Khor and Biabanak) — Adavi Marble — Famous and Exported; Exact capacity not reported in public sources. Crystal Stone
- Gohere Marble Mine (Khoramabad / Lorestan) — Lorestan Province (Gohere / Khoramabad) — Marble/Marble — It is mentioned in the list of prominent marble mines in Iran; Capacity not mentioned in commercial sources. Shajareh Stone Factories and Quarries Group
- Marble areas of Markazi Province — Mahallat (including Mahallat Blue Emperador Marble) — Markazi Province (Mahallat, Delijan, Khomein) — Types of marble and travertine — Numerical example: «Mahallat Blue Emperador Marble — Monthly production: ~1000 tons» (advertisement/mine profile on a commercial portal). IranStoneContactBuilding Stone Quarries | Ronak Stone
- Nahavand Marble / Hamedan Marble — Hamedan Province/Neighboring — Nahavand Marble (commercial varieties) — The county’s commercial and industrial sources give the name of the mine/type; Public numerical capacity not published. Mirzaee Stone Industries
- Several regions in Isfahan Province (Kashan, Aran and Bidgol, Najafabad, Anarak, Joshaghan, Lashtar, Mahkam, etc.) — Isfahan Province — Diverse regional marble — Isfahan Province is one of the main poles of marble extraction; The list of small and medium-sized mines is numerous and the capacities are mentioned on a case-by-case basis on the company/advertisement website. Shajareh Stone Factories and Mines Groupsangyab.com
- Marble mines of Yazd province — Yazd province — Local and export marbles — Several mines and processing plants are active in the province; Detailed statistics are published in provincial reports and company websites. Mirzaee Stone Industries
- Marble Quarries in Kerman Province (Mining Cities and Areas) — Kerman Province — Marble and Other Decorative Stones — Regional mines with variable production; capacity report scattered in local sources. Building Stone | Ronak Sang
- Online business directories (examples: IranStoneContact, ShajarehStone, etc.) — Numerous listings of “coupe/slab” quarries with technical specifications and some monthly production/reserve numbers (e.g., a potential reserve of 200,000 tons for a mine declared in the profile). These sources are useful for extracting initial operational figures, but most of the numbers are extracted from company reports/advertisements. IranStoneContactGroup of Factories and Companies
Internationally renowned marble quarries
۱. Carrara Quarries, Italy
- Annual capacity: About ۴ to 5 million tons of marble extraction Al JazeeraWIRED
- Some sources have recorded figures as high as ۱ million tons per year, but official figures closer to ۴–۵ million tons are more reliable The Free LibraryAl Jazeera
- Description: This region is one of the largest and most well-known marble mining centers in the world and is considered the most important supplier of marble to Europe and the United States Scientific Americannss magazine.
۲. Thassos Mine, Greece
- RH (Rahoni) Quarry: Extraction capacity ۶,۰۰۰ m³ per year iktinos.gr+1
- PR Quarry: Capacity of about ۱۰,۰۰۰ m³ per year iktinos.gr
- D.N. Haritopoulos Company Production Volume:
- Block extraction: ۵,۰۰۰ m³
- Solids and waste: ۳۵,۰۰۰ tons
- Slab: ۲۰,۰۰۰ m²
- Tiles: ۹۰,۰۰۰ m² per year haritopoulos-marble.gr
- Moschous Company has also announced an extraction capacity of about ۸,۰۰۰ m³ or equivalent to ۴۰۰,۰۰۰ m² slabs per year moschous.com
۳. Konia/Pyrgos and other Greek mines
- The area focused on marble mining in Eastern Macedonia includes Thassos, Pirgos, Volakas, etc., with more than ۲۰۰,۰۰۰ m³ extracted annually Stone Group International
۴. William Vennai SpA (Fantiscritti area), Italy
- Annual marble block extraction of approximately ۶۰,۰۰۰ tons, with the potential to increase to ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ tons through collaboration with affiliated companies aggbusiness.com
Comparison table of international index mines
| Country | Mine / Company | Annual extraction capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (Carrara) | The entire Carrara region | ~۴–۵ million tons Al Jazeera |
| Greece (Thassos) | RH Mine | ۶,۰۰۰ m³ iktinos.gr |
| PR Mine | ۱۰,۰۰۰ m³ iktinos.gr | |
| D. N. Haritopoulos (whole collection) | ۵,۰۰۰ m³ blocks + other products haritopoulos-marble.gr | |
| Moschous (factory + mine) | ۸,۰۰۰ m³ یا ۴۰۰,۰۰۰ m² moschous.com | |
| East Macedonia Region (mining cluster) | توتال >200,000 m³ Stone Group International | |
| Italy | William Vennai SpA | ۶۰,۰۰۰–۱۰۰,۰۰۰ تن aggbusiness.com |