The Most Important Stone Quarries in Iran

Iran, endowed with abundant mineral resources, boasts numerous valuable stone quarries that play a pivotal role not only in fulfilling domestic demand but also in supplying international markets. The country’s quarries yield a variety of stones, including marble, travertine, granite, and other decorative varieties, each distinguished by unique characteristics and applications. This article seeks to present the most prominent stone quarries in Iran and the provinces where they are predominantly situated. Our objective is to offer an in-depth insight into the potential of Iran’s decorative stone quarries and their influence on the construction and interior design sectors. We invite you to join us in exploring the rich and captivating realm of Iran’s stone quarries.

List of Stone Quarries in Iran

Iran possesses a rich and diverse range of stone quarries, many of which are internationally recognized for their quality and variety. Among the most notable are quarries producing marble, granite, travertine, and other decorative stones. The following is an overview of some of the most renowned stone quarries in Iran:

Marmarite (Marble) Quarries

• Abadeh Quarry
• Dehbid Quarry
• Joshan Quarry
• Arsanjan Quarry
• Yazd Quarry
• Nazarabad Karaj Quarry
• Mahalat Quarry
• Najafabad Isfahan Quarry
• Jiroft Quarry
• East Mahyar Quarry
• Mahkam Quarry
• Khubsangan Quarry
• Gohare Khorramabad Quarry
• Pol Pisheh Kurdistan Quarry
• Bafq Quarry
• Harsin Quarry
• Khoy Quarry
• Chaharak Quarry
• Bajestan Quarry
• Salsali Quarry
• Anarak Quarry
• Birjand Quarry
• Lashtar Quarry

Onyx Quarries

• Green Onyx Quarries of Kerman
• White Onyx Quarries of Qorveh
• Pink Onyx Quarries of Naqdeh
• Orange Onyx Quarries of Kashmar
• Khalkhal Onyx Quarries

Travertine Quarries

• Abbasabad Travertine
• Atashkuh Travertine
• Darabkhari Travertine
• Hajiabad Travertine
• Torq Travertine
• Kashan Travertine
• Tabas Travertine
• Takab Travertine
• Yellow Azarshahr Travertine
• Azarshahr Travertine

Porcelain Stone Quarries

• Aligoodarz Porcelain Stone Quarry
• Azna Porcelain Stone Quarry
• Sirjan Porcelain Stone Quarry
• Qorveh Porcelain Stone Quarry
• Neyriz Porcelain Stone Quarry
• Laibid Porcelain Stone Quarry
• Nehbandan Porcelain Stone Quarry
• Bandar Abbas Porcelain Stone Quarry

Granite Quarries

• Natanz Granite Quarry
• Nehbandan Granite Quarry
• Zahedan Granite Quarry
• Zanjan Granite Quarry
• Alamut Granite Quarry
• Birjand Granite Quarry
• Takab Granite Quarry
• Yazd Granite Quarry
• Maragheh Granite Quarry
• Taybad Granite Quarry
• Toyserkan Granite Quarry
• Borujerd Granite Quarry

Which Province Has the Most Stone Quarries?

Iran, recognized as a country abundant in natural building materials, possesses an estimated 3 billion tons of decorative and construction stone reserves. The nation is home to approximately 1,300 stone quarries, with a total nominal extraction capacity of around 27 million tons per year. These quarries are distributed across various provinces, serving both domestic demands and international export markets.

The diversity of stones extracted from Iran's quarries encompasses a wide range of colors, patterns, and quality grades. The distribution of the primary categories of decorative and construction stones in the country is as follows: approximately 44% marmarite (marble), 25% porcelain stone, 20% granite, 10% travertine, and 1% onyx.

Several provinces in Iran are internationally recognized for producing some of the finest building stones in the world. Isfahan Province, often referred to as the land of travertine, holds a leading position in the production of this stone type, while also contributing significantly to Iran’s granite supply. In addition to Isfahan, the provinces of Markazi, West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Yazd, Zanjan, and Qazvin are also notable for their rich reserves and high production of travertine stones.

South Khorasan Province possesses the largest granite reserves in Iran, with nearly 80 active and semi-active granite quarries. West Azerbaijan Province also plays a vital role in the domestic granite supply and contributes significantly to exports, particularly to countries such as Turkey, Iraq, and Armenia, through its network of over 60 granite quarries.

In addition, Lorestan Province is home to the majority of marmarite (marble) and porcelain stone quarries in Iran. With approximately 70 active quarries, it accounts for nearly 30% of the country’s building stone supply, extracting over one million tons of stone annually. Other provinces noted for their abundant marble reserves include Markazi, Yazd, Kerman, Razavi Khorasan, and Hormozgan.

The Most Important Stone Quarries in Iran

• Abbasabad Travertine Quarry, Markazi Province: Abbasabad Travertine is among the most renowned and best-selling travertines in Iran, distinguished by its pure white color, high durability, and elegant natural veining.
• Hajiabad Travertine Quarry, Markazi Province: Hajiabad travertine, characterized by its cream and beige hues and exceptional quality, is considered one of the finest types of travertine in both the Iranian and international stone markets.
• Harsin Marmarite (Marble) Quarry, Kermanshah Province: Harsin marble is recognized for its uniform texture and light coloration, offering notable quality and durability. It is commonly used in interior spaces and luxury buildings, making it one of the most sought-after marbles in Iran.
• Qorveh Marble Quarry, Kurdistan Province: Qorveh marble is highly regarded in Iran and internationally for its diverse coloration and distinctive texture. Available in green, white, and pink hues, it is widely utilized in interior decoration and luxury environments.
• Nehbandan Granite Quarry, South Khorasan Province: Nahbandan granite is one of Iran’s most durable and resilient stones, commonly employed in exterior applications and flooring owing to its gray and white coloration and exceptional strength.
• Zahedan Granite Quarry, Sistan and Baluchestan Province: Zahedan granite ranks among the highest quality granites in Iran, characterized by its white and gray hues. Its superior resistance to wear and impact renders it highly suitable for flooring and stair applications.
• Dehbid Marmarite (Marble) Quarry, Fars Province: Dehbid marble is among the most popular marbles in Iran, renowned for its attractive cream and beige tones and exceptional quality, making it ideal for flooring, wall cladding, and interior applications.
• Aligodarz Porcelain Stone Quarry, Lorestan Province: Aligodarz porcelain stone, characterized by its white base with blue and gray streaks, occupies a distinguished position among crystalline stones and is widely used in both interior and exterior design.

• Atashkuh Travertine Quarry, Markazi Province: Atashkuh travertine, distinguished by its cream and white hues and glossy surface, is regarded as one of the premier travertines in Iran.
• Azarshahr Travertine Quarry, East Azerbaijan Province: Azarshahr travertine exhibits a diverse palette of colors, including red, yellow, and lemon, and is widely employed in both interior and exterior facades.

These quarries have secured a prominent position in both domestic and international stone markets owing to the superior quality and diverse coloration of their stones, thereby serving as vital economic assets for Iran.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the stone quarries of Iran, as one of the nation’s abundant and valuable natural resources, play a pivotal role in the country’s economic and industrial development. This article has highlighted the most significant stone quarries in Iran and the provinces where the majority of these quarries are situated. Given the diversity and superior quality of the extracted stones, these quarries not only satisfy domestic demand but possess substantial potential for export to international markets.