Which mechanism significantly slowed quarrying in ancient Egypt, prior to use of full scale explosives, for granite obelisks?

💡 Explanation

Thermal stress fracturing was rate-limiting, because rapidly heating stone with fire followed by quenching with water induced surface cracks, therefore making efficient extraction impossible rather than mechanical abrasion alone due to hardness.

• Which structural instability challenged the height scaling of medieval turret fortifications?
• Which mechanism allowed medieval astrolabes to indirectly determine the height of distant objects like towers?
• Which outcome increased the strategic importance of Constantinople after the 6th century?
• Which outcome occurs when the `chadar` in a Mughal garden develops significant scaling?
• Which risk increases for early water canals that lacked periodic dredging?
• Which risk increased for Roman fortresses when using wood palisades?