Masonry Magazine September 2006 Page. 46
Using Natural Stone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate. It is extensively used in buildings throughout the United States.
Limestone is a very strong and durable material when used in the construction of buildings. It is especially popular in architecture, and many landmarks around the world, especially in North America and Europe, are made primarily of the material. Limestone is readily available and relatively easy to cut into blocks or more elaborate carving. It is also long lasting and stands up well to exposure.
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Limestone was most popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries-train stations, banks and other structures from that era are often limestone. It is used as a facade on some skyscrapers, but only as thin cladding rather than solid structural blocks.
Also, although limestone is readily available and quarried in the United States, other varieties are often imported from both Europe and Asia.
Limestone has long been known to be one of the best, high-quality building materials available for use today.
Marble
MARBLE IS limestone that is more or less crystallized through metamorphism, with the crystals ranging from granular to compact in texture. Marble is extensively used for sculpture, as a building material and in many other applications.
Marble is a metamorphic rock that, at some point, has undergone a metamorphism from limestone, composed mostly of calcite (a crystalline form of calcium carbonate, CaCO3). The word "marble" is often colloquially used to refer to many other stones that are capable of taking a high polish.
Marble is a very strong building material and can be polished to a beautiful luster. Marble has a very appealing finish when polished, and is found in many different sparkling colors such as white, pink, gray, red, yellow or black.
Spain is one of the largest producers of high-quality marble. It is imported to the United States for all types of building projects, and it is a very good building material.
Ron Willis is owner of Masonry Estimating and Consulting Services (MEACS). A veteran masonry estimator, he has been in the masonry business for more than 40 years. He can be reached at (817) 822-8595 or ron@meacs.com.