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before. The first bench is developed by the state of the art Fantini Machines (Figure 4). They develop <br />the initial entrances, benches, and headings for mining by cutting 6'x6'x9' (2mx2mx3m) blocks. <br />Figure 4- Fantini Machine <br />Once the initial bench is opened larger blocks are quarried (Figure 5). The larger blocks allow for <br />more selective extraction of the marble. These larger benches will continue downwards following <br />the marble seam into the mountain. Pillars are left within the gallery to ensure stability of the rock <br />mass. The pillars and surrounding walls are instrumented with strain gauges to constantly monitor <br />the rock stress within the quarry. This ensures both the safety of the miners and long term stability <br />of the quarry. Unlike an underground room and pillar mine in coal were pillars are designed to fail <br />and allow the ultimate collapse of the area, these marble galleries are designed for long term stability <br />due to the length of time that they are quarried. Some underground marble galleries in Italy have <br />remained open since the Romans mined them. <br />The Pride of America DRMS 112c <br />Exhibit D - 3 12/23/15 <br />