Quarrying benefits the Irish economy: ƒzDirect employment is created in the operation and maintenance of quarries. Indirect employment opportunities are also created for hauliers, mechanics, etc.
ƒzQuarrying provides a secure supply of raw materials, free of price fluctuations, for local industries such as cement, concrete and glass.
zz
Development contributions to local councils are used to improve local amenities such as roads.
Negative impacts of quarrying zz
z z zz
Fig 5.15 The GPO in Dublin was rebuilt after the 1916 Rising using granite from the Glencullen quarry.
Noise, dust and heavy goods traffic generated by quarries can damage people’s quality of life.
Quarries and their rusting machinery take from the beauty of the rural landscape.
Quarry lakes formed by seasonal flooding are safety hazards if local people decide to swim in them.
Fig. 5.16 Irish cement use crushed stone from its own quarry in Limerick as one of its major ingredients in the production of cement.
EXAM LINK (OL) Human Interaction with the Rock Cycle (30 marks)
Discuss how humans interact with the rock cycle with reference to quarrying. 2018, Q2C
EXAM LINK (HL) Human Interaction with the Rock Cycle (30 marks)
Humans interact with the rock cycle in a number of ways. Describe and explain how this interaction with the rock cycle takes place, with reference to the extraction of building materials.
2018, Q3B CHECK YOUR LEARNING
1. What is an ‘active’ plate margin and where can one be found?
2. What is a ‘passive’ plate margin and where can one be found?
3. What did Ireland’s first settlers use quarried rock for?
4. What did the Normans use quarried rock for? 5. Why did they decide to use rock for this purpose?
6. Explain the ‘plug and feather’ method of quarrying rocks.
7. What type of rock is ‘channelled’? 8. List one use of rock that has been quarried using explosives.
9. Explain one positive impact of quarrying. 10. Explain one negative impact of quarrying.
Marking Scheme:
Description/explanation = 15 SRPs × 2 marks
Marking Scheme: Description/explanation = 10 SRPs × 3 marks
