International Journal of Mining Science and Technology 24 (2014) 269–273

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International Journal of Mining Science and Technology

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijmst

Variation of vertical and horizontal drilling rates depending on some

rock properties in the marble quarries
Servet Demirdag ⇑, Nazmi Sengun, Ibrahim Ugur, Tamer Efe, Deniz Akbay, Rasit Altindag
Mining Engineering Department, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta 32850, Turkey

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The main objective of this study is to determine the rates of vertically and horizontally oriented drilling
Received 20 September 2013 processes in marble quarries and to observe the factors affecting the drilling rates in terms of physical
Received in revised form 20 October 2013 and mechanical properties of the rocks. In situ drilling tests were performed in different marble quarries
Accepted 22 November 2013
with different marble types and drilling times and penetration rates for a series of successive depth-
Available online 12 February 2014
increments were trying to be determined under vertically and horizontally oriented conditions. In order
to understand the relation between the parameters that are investigated within the scope of this
Keywords:
research, uniaxial compressive strength, Brazilian tensile strength, impact strength, Bohme abrasion
Mechanical properties
Drilling
strength, P-wave velocity, porosity, unit volume weight, Schmidt hardness index and brittleness index
Drilling rate values were correlated with the drilling rates. It was noticed that the porosity and unit volume weight
Marble quarry could be taken as the key parameters among them for obtaining meaningful correlation with drilling per-
formance. It was also observed that the physical and mechanical rock properties are more relevant in ver-
tical drilling than horizontal drilling.
Ó 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Mining & Technology.

1. Introduction
A variety of techniques are used to extract minerals around the
world, including drilling, blasting, excavating, crushing and cutting
operations. These operations are often encountered in civil and
mining engineering applications [1].
In the past years, given the importance of rock drilling in mining
and petroleum engineering applications, several studies were per-
formed on the drilling properties of materials like rock. Controlla-
ble parameters (rotational speed, thrust, blow frequency and
flushing) and uncontrollable parameters (rock properties and geo-
logical conditions) are effective on rock drillability. The prediction
of the penetration rate of drilling machine represents the most
important step in the cost estimation during the planning of the
project [2]. For planning an efficient drilling operation, we must
learn how these parameters influence penetration rate in the
drilling process. Several scientists investigated theoretically and
experimentally about drillability of rocks by correlating the pene-
tration rate with the various rock properties to prediction of pene-
tration rate [3].
Drilling has a significant role in open pit mining. Considering
high operation costs it would be desirable to optimize exploitation
methods. Operation costs decline when drilling becomes more
⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 246 2111308.
E-mail address: servetdemirdag@sdu.edu.tr (D. Servet).
efficient [4]. Drilling takes too much time before the cutting opera-
tion, so to perform optimum drilling speed is very important in
quarries because of other operations start after drilling. Rotary drills,
diamond drills and percussive drills are most common drilling tech-
niques used in open pits, quarries and construction sites. Total dril-
ling costs could be estimated by using prediction equations. Also,
one could use a prediction equation to select the drilling rig type,
which is best suited for given conditions [5]. Kahraman suggested
penetration rate models for rotary, down the hole and hydraulic
top hammer drills using multiple curvilinear regression analysis
[5]. Furthermore, the prediction of physical and mechanical proper-
ties of rock formations from drilling rates may help the mining engi-
neers to control the changing characteristics of the formations [6].
Kahraman suggested a new drillability index from force-penetra-
tion curves of indentation tests and also a mathematical model for
rotary drills using this new drillability index [6]. The main parame-
ters of rocks that affect drillability are given in Table 1 [7].
Extraction of the quarry stone happens in several ways depend-
ing on the technology owned by the quarrymen. The most critical
operations are drilling vertical holes, using a twin-headed rig, and
the use of a wire-saw cable for cutting the marble blocks [8].
In marble quarries through the production process before dia-
mond wire cutting, the first step is drilling three holes, one vertical
and two horizontal. Then the process goes on threaded of diamond
wire through these holes. The speed of the drilling operation is the
most effective and important parameter of the process [9].

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2014.01.020
2095-2686/Ó 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Mining & Technology.
270 D. Servet et al. / International Journal of Mining Science and Technology 24 (2014) 269–273

Table 1
Main factors affecting the drillability of rock [7].

Geological parameters Machine parameters Operating parameters

Rock type Drilling machine Drilling methods
Physical–mechanical properties Thrust force Operation
Orientation of foliation Rotation Maintenance of machine
Discontinuities Bit type Experience of operator
Mineral composition Flushing Logistic support

Rock drilling is a complex process. It is obvious that a single Table 2

rock property does not completely define rock drillability for dif- Details on rocks studied.
ferent rock types. Also, many researchers have proposed many Rock name Rock type Rock class Location
penetration rate models and factors affecting penetration rate in
Travertine Travertine Sedimentary Bucak–Burdur
the literature, but these studies are related to the rock properties Beige Limestone Sedimentary Isparta
and kind of hammers rather than direction of drilling. White marble Marble Metamorphic Usak
Hartman determined the behavior of the rock under the action Lymra Limestone Sedimentary Finike–Antalya
of a drill bit by performing drop-test studies and proposed a dril-
ling-rate model [10,11]. Paone and Madson carried out the rela-
tionship between penetration rates and rock properties for
horizontally and vertically oriented drill holes to determine drilling
diamond and rotary drilling with impregnated diamond bits on a
rates for a series of successive depth-increments.
variety of rock types both in the laboratory and in the field [12].
Travertine is a form of limestone having some distinctive char-
Early studies on drilling were examined in detail by Maurer [13].
acteristics as building and facing stone with varying color and
He noted that drill bits were loaded both tensile and shear strength
porosity. It is primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3),
which were produced in the rock near the bit. Howarth et al. cor-
and therefore the dominant mineral is calcite. White marble is a
related rock properties such as bulk density, saturated compressive
re-crystallized white limestone containing tiny white and yellow
strength, apparent porosity and saturated P-wave velocity with
veins and the palest of large size grey crystals on the white back-
penetration rate [14]. They stated that porosity has an effect on
ground are cemented with micro-crystalline structure. Beige mar-
drillability, since high porosity was likely to assist the formation
ble is a micritic limestone type composed primarily of calcium
of fracture paths and networking of such paths. Wijk studied drop
carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of the mineral calcite. It is known
hammer experiments and stated that the stamp strength index
as chemical or organic sedimentary rock formed by the precipita-
could be used for the rock drilling efficiency and demonstrated
tion of calcium carbonate, shells and fossils from lake, ocean or
the validity of this index [15]. Kahraman investigated the experi-
clear, warm and shallow marine waters. It has a homogeneous col-
mental works of different researchers and noticed relations be-
or distribution, rich in calcite (capillary cracks filled with calcite),
tween the penetration rate of rotary and diamond drills and he
does not contain silica minerals or containing trace amounts of
showed that there was no correlation between the penetration rate
silica minerals. Lymra is a calcareous sedimentary rock, occurred
of diamond drills and brittleness values [16]. Altindag suggested a
as a result of the millions of years of sediments being buried,
new brittleness index and correlated this new brittleness index
compressed and cemented by precipitation from mineral rich
with the drillability index for rotary blast hole drills [17]. Bilgin
waters. It is generally used as an ornamental stone in varying
and Kahraman observed rotary blast hole drills in several rock
architectural applications such as old-build construction and exte-
types at open pit mines and correlated the penetration rates with
rior claddings for buildings. It is remarkable due to its suitable
rock properties [18]. Kahraman et al. correlated penetration rates
mechanical properties for high workability as well as its high level
with the rock properties such as uniaxial compressive strength,
of color homogeneity.
Brazilian tensile strength, point load strength and Schmidt ham-
Samples collected for each rock type to determine mechanical
mer value exhibit strong correlations with the penetration rate
and physical properties such as UCS, BTS, IS, BAS, Vp, P, UVW, SHI
[19,20]. They investigated the effect of porosity on the correlations
and BI. The physical and mechanical properties of rocks are given
between the modulus ratio and penetration rate.
in Table 3.
If it is examined in an obvious manner, it would be seen that
The procedure for measuring UCS has been standardized by
there is a lack of studies in the literature providing sufficient rela-
International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM). The samples for
tionships between the drilling rates depend on the direction and
UCS test are 54 mm in diameter and have a minimum length to
rock properties.
diameter ratio of 2 and met the strict tolerance limits as specified
Since the drilling operation is one of the most important stages
in the suggested test procedure and the test applied on 8 dried
for marble block production in quarries, the effect of the mechan-
samples for every rock type.
ical and physical properties such as uniaxial compressive strength
BTS of rock samples were determined according to ISRM. The
(UCS), Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), impact strength (IS), Bohme
BTS tests were conducted on core samples having a diameter of
abrasion strength (BAS), P-wave velocity (Vp), Porosity (P), unit
54 mm. Platens loaded the specimen diametrally with the axes of
volume weight (UVW), Schmidt hardness index (SHI) and brittle-
rotation for specimen and apparatus coincident. The specified
ness index (BI) of four different rock types on drilling rates of five
loading rate was set as 200 N/s until the failure occurs in 15–30 s.
meters both vertically and horizontally oriented holes were inves-
To determine the impact resistance of the stone types, a stan-
tigated in this study.
dard 50 kg steel hammer was free fallen on the 40 mm  40
mm  40 mm marble test pieces from the several heights on the
anvil center of the sand bed as defined in TS 699 standard. Number
2. Experimental method of impacts which causes breakage (n) is recorded and the impact
strength of the stone was calculated as follows:
In this study, four marble quarry visits were performed in
Turkey (Table 2), and in situ drilling rates were measured from Is ¼ nðn þ 1Þ ð1Þ
 D. Servet et al. / International Journal of Mining Science and Technology 24 (2014) 269–273 271

Table 3
Physical and mechanical properties of rocks.

Rock type UCS (MPa) BTS (MPa) IS (kgfcm/cm2) BAS (cm3/50cm2) Vp (m/s) P (%) SHI UVW (kN/m3) BI
Travertine 62.48 3.35 5.90 29.00 4425 11.69 43.77 23.38 104.65
Beige 147.39 5.67 20.00 14.17 6451 0.51 55.00 26.57 417.85
White 82.44 4.05 13.30 21.68 4810 1.42 40.27 26.61 166.94
Lymra 66.43 2.56 15.40 40.80 4179 11.23 42.77 23.81 85.03

Table 4
Technical properties of drilling machine. SHI testing method and sample preparation were carried out in
accordance with the specifications of the ISRM. Tests were per-
Parameter Travertine Beige White Lymra
formed with L-type hammer having impact energy of 0.74 Nm. All
Energy (kW) 380 220 380 220
tests were made with the hammer held vertically downwards
Air pressure (Bar) 8 8 8 8
Oil pressure (Bar) 0–200 80 0–200 80 (±5°) on the cubic block samples having an edge dimension of
110 mm.
Drilling times or drilling rates of the horizontal and vertical
where Is is the impact strength value of the stone in kgf.cm/cm3; n holes were in situ measured with chronometer and recorded for
the number of impacts causing breakage. every 1-m rig length. The holes having 5 m length for each direc-
The experimental procedure conducted for abrasion test was TS tion were consecutively drilled by individual rigs without the
EN 14157 standard. For the abrasion resistance evaluation, Bohme assembly time is not taken into consideration. The properties of
abrasion test was applied on 71 mm  71 mm  71 mm cube- drilling machines are given in Table 4.
shaped samples prepared for each rock by sawing. The abrasion
loss was calculated from the differences in weight of the samples
measured before and after the each 22 revolutions and converted 3. Results and discussion
into volume loss from the known bulk density of rock by the fol-
lowing equation: Drilling rates of vertical and horizontal holes of rock types are
given in Table 5. According to the table, average drilling rates of
M0  M1 travertine are about 28.9 cm/min in vertically and 24.0 cm/min
DV ¼  50 ð2Þ
qA in horizontally oriented holes. However, lower drilling rates were
obtained for Lymra, beige and white marbles for both vertically
where DV is the volume loss of rock in cm3 for the 50 cm2 abraded
and horizontally drilled holes. All measurements have revealed
sample surface area; M0 the initial weight of the sample in g; M1 the
that bits can penetrate through vertical direction faster than hori-
weight of the sample after abrasion in g; A the abraded surface area
zontal direction (Fig. 1).
of the sample in cm2, and q the bulk density of rock in g/cm3. The
This situation can be explained by two ways; the first one is the
open porosity and UVW of rock samples were determined using sat-
vertical stress (rv) is more effective for horizontal drilling resulting
uration and buoyancy techniques, as recommended by ISRM and TS.
from additional loads due to the unit volume weight of the rock
After drying the all samples to constant mass (M1), all samples were
and height of bench (Table 6 and Fig. 2).
saturated by water immersion for a period of 48 h with periodic agi-
The second one is the physical and mechanical properties of
tation to remove trapped air. Later, the samples were transferred
rocks are closely related to vertical drilling rates than horizontal
underwater to a basket in an immersion bath and their saturated-
ones (Fig. 3). In drilling operations, the impacts produced by
submerged weights were measured with a scale having 0.01 g accu-
repeated blows of the piston generate shock waves that are trans-
racy (M2). Then, the surface of the samples was dried with a moist
mitted to the rock by the bit. The shock waves generate new dis-
cloth and their saturated-surface-dry weights were measured out-
continuities and fractures in rocks, so that higher penetration
side water (M3). The UVW was determined as the ratio of the dry
rates could be obtained in vertical drilling. However, the whole
mass to the bulk volume of the sample (Eq. (3)). The open porosity
mass behavior of the rocks resulting from the vertical stress
(P) is expressed as the ratio of the volume of the pores accessible to
and Poisson’s ratio cause low penetration rates in horizontal
water to the bulk volume of the sample (Eq. (4)).
drilling.
M1 In vertical drilling, it was observed that the drilling rate values
UVW ¼ ðkg=m3 Þ ð3Þ
M3  M2 were considerably increased through the whole length, unlike for
horizontal drilling. Fig. 4 shows that there is a meaningful correla-
M3  M1 tion between vertical and horizontal drilling rates with 0.94 and
P¼  100 ð%Þ ð4Þ
M3  M2 vertical drilling rate is higher than horizontal drilling rate.

Table 5
In situ measurements of drilling rate.

Length (m) Drilling rate (cm/min)

Travertine Beige White Lymra
Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical
1 26.1 31.3 12.8 17.1 14.4 17.4 17.1 22.1
2 23.7 26.1 14.2 15.7 12.6 16.8 19.2 23.6
3 24.5 28.3 14.0 15.0 14.6 15.7 21.1 25.4
4 25.0 29.0 14.7 17.2 13.6 19.4 20.7 26.7
5 20.9 29.9 12.7 17.9 13.0 18.5 19.8 26.1
Average 24.0 28.9 13.7 16.6 13.6 17.6 19.6 24.8
272 D. Servet et al. / International Journal of Mining Science and Technology 24 (2014) 269–273

30 35

Horizontal drilling rate

25 30

Vertical drilling rate

25
20

(cm/min)
(cm/min)
20
15
15
10
10
Travertine Beige
5 5
White Lymra

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Drilling length (m) Drilling length (m)
(a) Horizontal (b) Vertical

Fig. 1. Horizontal and vertical drilling rate vs. drilling length.

Table 6
Vertical stress values depend on depth.

Vertical drilling rate (cm/min)

35
Rock type UVW (kN/m3) Depth (m) rv (MPa) 30 y=1.0981x+2.4855
Travertine 26.61 5 0.117
r=0.94
25
Beige 26.57 5 0.133
White 23.38 5 0.133 20
Limra 23.81 5 0.119 15
10
Travertine Beige
5 White Lymra

0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Vertical stress σ v=γ *H , MPa Horizontal drilling rate (cm/min)
Unit volume weight γ , kN/m3
Length of hole h, m Fig. 4. Vertical drilling rate vs. horizontal drilling rate.

σv h:5 m
l:5 m
It can be seen from the Fig. 3 that, similar relationships were ob-
tained for drilling rates vs. rock properties in vertical drilling than
l:5 m horizontal. UCS, BTS, BAS, Vp and BI have a close relation with dril-
ling rate (Figs. 3 and 5a).
According to the Fig. 3f, there is a weak relation between SHI
and the drilling rates. However, the most significant relations in
drilling rates with P and UVW of rock were observed since the
pores in rock structure facilitate drilling operation (Fig. 3g and
Fig. 2. Scheme of a marble quarry and drilling procedure. Fig. 5b).

35 35 35 35
y=-8.904lnx+44.442
y=4.6203x0.4788
Drilling rate (cm/min)
Drilling rate (cm/min)

Drilling rate (cm/min)

Drilling rate (cm/min)

30 30 y=40.008e-0.16x 30 r=0.80 30
y=270.36x-0.572 r=0.79 r=0.80
25 r=0.84 25 25 25
20 20 20 20
15 15 15 15
10 y=197.65x-0.551 10 y=31.109e-0.152x 10 10
r=0.77 r=0.72
y=-7.774lnx+37.341 y=3.9767x0.4576
5 Horizontal Vertical 5 5 r=0.81 5 r=0.73

0 50 100 150 200 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 5 10 15 20 25 0 10 20 30 40 50

UCS (MPa) BTS (MPa) IS (kgf·cm/cm2) BAS (cm3/50 cm2)
(a) UCS (b) BTS (c) IS (d) BAS
35 35 35
y=16.365e0.0431x
Drilling rate (cm/min)

Drilling rate (cm/min)

Drilling rate (cm/min)

30 y=201938x-1.077 30 y=48.62e-0.018x 30
r=0.44 r=0.98
25 r=0.78 25 25
20 20 20
15 15 15
10 y=92802x-1.011 10
y=33.371e-0.015x
10 y=13.066e0.0443x
5 r=0.70 5 r=0.34 5 r=0.96
0 0
3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Vp (ms) SHI P (%)
(e) Vp (f) SHI (g) P

Fig. 3. UCS, BTS, IS, BAS, Vp, SHI and P vs. drilling rate.
 D. Servet et al. / International Journal of Mining Science and Technology 24 (2014) 269–273 273

35 35
30

Drilling rate (cm/min)

30

Drilling rate (cm/min)

y=964.25e-0.152x
25 y=105.23x-0.315 25 r=0.99
r=0.83
20 20
15 15
y=78.983x-0.301 y=903.13e-0.158x
10 10 r=0.98
r=0.76
5 Horizontal Vertical 5
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 23 24 25 26 27
BI UVW
(a) BI (b) UVW

Fig. 5. BI and UVW vs. drilling rate.

4. Conclusions
In marble quarries, although the heights of the benches may be
up to 6–7 m in safety limits, 5 m hole lengths were considered in
this study. The drilling rates and their effects on 5 m vertically
and horizontally oriented hole lengths of four different rock types
were investigated. It was seen that, although physical and mechan-
ical rock properties are more effective in vertical than horizontal
drilling, vertical stress (rv) and Poisson’s ratio are more effective
in horizontal than vertical drilling. So it could be mentioned that,
higher penetration rates were acquired for vertical drilling. In addi-
tion, the most meaningful correlations were obtained between the
drilling rate and porosity/unit volume weight in comparison to
other rock properties. UCS, BI, IS, BAS, BTS, Vp and SHI are the most
relevant rock properties respectively on drilling rates.
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