Rehabilitation scenarios for limestone quarries with 3D modeling and 3D print: a case study of Jebel El Oust (Tunisian Atlas)

The extractive industry is important for the development and sustainability of the construction, mining, manufacturing industries, and metropolitan areas in Tunisia. In recent times, the stone quarry sector has made remarkable progress involved in the development and and growth of several sectors. However, many quarries have been abandoned without rehabilitation plans, causing physical and environmental degradation which also negatively impact the environment, vegetation, and landscape. In this work, we present two different scenarios for the rehabilitation of the Soroubat Quarry, Jebel El Oust, in the Zaghouan region of Tunisia using a three-dimensional modeling approach. Moreover, a preliminary geotechnical and stability assessment of the site revealed that slope angles in the quarry should be in the range of 49.9°–65.8°. We confirm that our presented rehabilitation plan of the Soroubat Quarry could potentially overcome the negative impacts of quarrying since we took in consideration the environmental, social, and cultural aspects of the studied region. However, intensive care and reinforcement of the slopes should be conducted, prior to rehabilitation actions.