Resources for Virginia From the Ground Up

Vulcan Quarry, the
lowest spot in Manassas

Triassic sediments on
top of igneous rock

shot holes drilled at edge
of bench for next blast

bigger than Tinker Toys!

Topics to Explore

how is the rock at the quarry different from the rock nearby? why is it different from the rock in the quarry on Route 123 next to the Occoquan River?
why is quarry rock valuable? for what purposes is it used?
when was the quarry developed? why wasn't the rock mined before then?
how long before the rock is exhausted physically? why won't the quarry be mined forever?
what will happen to the quarry when it's no longer mined for rock?
why do neighbors object to quarries? how do quarries mitigate their concerns?
what other existing quarries compete with Manassas Quarry?
where could a new quarry be developed near Manassas? what constraints would limit opening a new quarry?
is there enough demand to justify opening a new quarry near Manassas? if you were a banker loaning money for a new quarry, what rate of return would you require to justify the risk?
what would happen if all quarries in Northern Virginia were closed?
why isn't the quarry filled with water now? why would it fill up with water later?
where does the water from the quarry go, when it flows off the property?