Spatial Distribution and Analysis of Quarries in Al-wadi Al-Gadid Governorate "A study in Economic Geography"

Quarries represent one of the most prominent economic resources in Al-wadi Al-Gadid Governorate due to its promising natural potential that contributes to supporting both the construction and industrial sectors. The governorate is well known for producing a variety of quarry raw materials. As of 2024, there are 93 active quarries in the region extracting seven types of materials: sand, gravel, limestone, clay, marble, alabaster, and crushed alabaster.
          The study is organized around four main themes: The first addresses the historical development of the number of quarries and their production. The second analyzes the pattern of their geographical distribution and classifies the types of extracted materials. The third theme involves conducting advanced spatial analyses to identify areas of concentration, highlight their geographical characteristics, and analyze the variations in spatial distribution. Finally, the fourth theme diagnoses the challenges hindering the development of this sector and proposes potential solutions.
          The study reached several important conclusions, most notably the 102.2% increase in the number of quarries during the period from 2012 to 2024. More than 33% of the quarries are concentrated in Al-Kharga Center. Privately owned quarries outnumber those operated by companies. The distribution pattern of quarries in the governorate is identified as clustered, forming an elliptical shape that extends along a northwest–southeast axis with an angle of 129.31° from north.
        The study also identified the key problems that hinder the development of the quarry sector in the study area, with administrative issues being the most significant, accounting for 28.7%. It offers a set of proposed solutions and recommendations to address these challenges and enhance the utilization of the quarry resources in Al-wadi Al-Gadid Governorate.