Abstract

Monte Coto in Pinoso, Alicante, Southeast Spain, is one of Europe’s largest quarries for ornamental stones. It contains a significant deposit of fossiliferous limestone from the Paleogene, within the Internal Prebetic subdomain. The quarry exploits a rock layer approximately 130 m thick with a 60_ dip angle, which is a part of an anticlinal fold. This rock formation primarily consists of light-toned lime stones formed in a reef environment, with up to eight distinct stone varieties characterized by the presence of foraminifera. The rock mass of the quarry is compact and heavily influenced by joint and fracture structures. Extraction processes are adapted to minimize instabilities, despite the rock’s uniaxial compressive strength averaging 80 MPa. Quarry operations have expanded over time, incorporating advanced mining techniques, 3D geological modeling, and heavy machinery for efficient extraction. The quarry annually produces 200,000 m3 of natural stone and800,000 m3 of processed by-products, and accumulates 800,000 m3 of earth in waste dumps exceeding 100 m in height. © 2024 The Author(s).