On the Challenges and Advantages of Women in the Mining Industry
Because of my involvement in operating a Milano White Marble quarry on the Pamir Plateau, I have gradually gained a deeper understanding of the mining industry.
I originally worked in foreign trade. In the past, when we needed stone, we had to purchase it, and it always felt expensive.
Today, however, large slabs of our own stone are stored in multiple warehouses in Shuitou, and my concern has shifted to sales.
This change—from a buyer of stone to a quarry operator—is something one only truly understands after entering the industry.
-Reflections from Susan, a White Stone Quarry Owner on the Pamir Plateau
-Reflections from Susan, a White Stone Quarry Owner on the Pamir Plateau
1.Mining Operations Are a Systematic Process
In my view, quarry operations can be broadly divided into three key stages.
1. Quarrying Management: Professional Exploration Is Fundamental
Whether it is open-pit mining or underground mining, the most critical factor is professional geological exploration and accurately identifying the vein.
At present, our yield rate is not high, which is why underground mining is necessary.
The goal is clear: to obtain the maximum amount of high-grade marble blocks—large, clean, and free of cracks—in the shortest possible time and with the most efficient methods.
2. Production Management: Maximizing the Use of Stone Resources
Production management does not only refer to block processing. It includes: slab cutting, processing project materials, and turning discarded smaller pieces into mosaics and small-sized slabs.
All of this comes down to one principle: maximizing the utilization of mineral resources.
We have learned this through experience.
In 2024, due to a lack of material selection knowledge, we shipped many defective blocks back to China. The result was a loss on freight costs and no market demand.
In 2025, we began to establish a systematic block management process:
blocks are first washed, cracks are carefully examined, and only then do we decide whether they should be shipped to China.
Materials that do not meet standards are further downsized, while those approved for shipment must be of good quality.
3. Sales Management: The Decisive Factor in Quarry Operations
Sales management, in my opinion, is the most critical factor in the success or failure of a stone quarry.
Producing good material accounts for only about 20 percent of the outcome.
Across the country, there are thousands of stone varieties, yet fewer than 5 percent are truly accepted by the market and consistently selected by designers.
Beyond the natural qualities of the stone itself, I believe marketing and sales account for roughly 70 percent of the result.
For this reason, quarry owners must develop a marketing mindset—or at the very least, stay close to the end client.
4. Women in Mining: Thinking Across the Entire Chain
Female quarry owners often bring a more refined and holistic way of thinking, rather than relying on brute force or aggressive execution alone.
Mining operations should be approached from a full-chain perspective:
sales and cash flow are always the foundation, but sales should not be limited to block trading alone.
The real question is:
how can my stone become a product that people truly appreciate?
This is where marketing begins.
Who is using my material?
In what kind of spaces?
Has it been applied in well-known hotels or landmark projects?
What kind of influence has it created?
Have any notable figures used it?
I hope more women quarry owners will join the conversation, so we can explore these questions together.
