Assessing the potential for reopening a building stone quarry : Newbigging Sandstone Quarry, Fife

Newbigging Sandstone Quarry in Fife is one of a number of former quarries in the Burntisland- Aberdour district which exploited the pale-coloured Grange Sandstone from Lower Carboniferous rocks. The quarry supplied building stone from the late 19th century, working intermittently from 1914 until closure in 1937, and again when reopened in the 1970s to the 1990s. The stone was primarily used locally and to supply the nearby markets in the Scottish Central Belt. Historical evidence indicates that prior to sandstone extraction, the area was dominated by largescale quarrying and mining of limestone, and substantial sandstone quarrying is likely to have begun after the arrival of the main railway line in 1890. It is probable that removal of the sandstone was directly associated with limestone exploitation, and that the quarried sandstone was effectively a by-product of limestone production. Sandstone extraction was probably viable due to the existing limestone quarry infrastructure (workforce, equipment, transportation) and the high demand for building stone in Central Scotland in the late 19th century. The geology within Newbigging Sandstone Quarry is dominated by thick-bedded uniform sandstone with a wide joint spacing, well-suited for obtaining large blocks. However, a mudstone (shale) band is likely to be present within a few metres of the principal (north) face of the quarry, around which the sandstone bed thickness and quality is likely to decrease. The mudstone bed forms a plane sloping at a shallow angle to the north, so that expansion of the quarry in this direction is likely to encounter a considerable volume of poor quality stone. Additionally, an east-west trending fault is present approximately 100 metres north of the quarry face, which is also likely to be associated with poor quality (fractured) stone

Development of sustainable georesources for the built environment in the United Kingdom

The character of the UK’s built heritage has been largely determined by the country’s diverse geology. Indigenous natural stone forms a major component of the nation’s pre-1919 building stock. Stone has been used traditionally for roofing, roads, pavements, bridges, engineering works, and all forms of walling. Today it is mostly employed as thin panel cladding to concrete frameworks in modern construction and is now increasingly being used in large volumes for new city streetscapes.This paper outlines the material requirements for the repair and maintenance of the stone-built heritage and illustrates a range of initiatives across the UK aimed at safeguarding and redeveloping indigenous resources. The importance, particularly for the repair and conservation sector, of selecting appropriate replacement stone is being recognized by architectural and conservation professionals and by local authority officials. There is also increasing recognition of the importance to the economy of the local character of the built environment in terms of its value to tourism and to architectural, historical, and cultural identity. The paper also examines the historical sources of information on stone in the UK and offers recommendations for databasing and disseminating stone resource information. This may assist the redevelopment of a healthy indigenous stone industry and ensure that the unique built heritage character of the UK is maintained and enhanced

Glossaire illustré sur les formes d’altération de la pierre

The ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Stone (ISCS) is providing a forum for the interchange of experience, ideas, and knowledge in the field of stone conservation. ISCS aims at facilitating the publication, dissemination and presentation of state of the art reviews on pre-identified issues. Simplification and demystification of scientific information for practitioners are also part of the main goals of the group. In studies on stone deterioration and conservation, terminological confusions lead to major communication problems between scientists, conservators and practitioners. In this context, it is of primary importance to set up a common language; if degradation patterns can be shown, named and described, then they can be recognised and compared with similar ones in a more accurate way in further investigations. The ISCS glossary constitutes an important tool for scientific discussions on decay phenomena and processes. It is also an excellent basis for tutorials on stone deterioration. It is based on the careful examination of pre-existing glossaries of English terms. It does not aim at replacing these glossaries, often set up originally in a language other than English, and for most of them done to a high standard. As President of ICOMOS I would like to congratulate the International Scientific Committee for Stone and its President Véronique Verges-Belmin for the results of years of research presented in this publication. Stone conservation is a crucial topic in monument conservation and many of our National Committees all over the world hope for advice and help from the specialists familiar with traditional and modern methods of conservation. The Illustrated Glossary on Stone Deterioration Patterns offers a wide range of suggestions and practical advice. Probably, after the English-French version becomes available the Glossary will also be translated into other languages. In view of the accelerating decay of our stone monuments worldwide this is an exemplary contribution which will promote the international cooperation so important in this field.peer-reviewe

Playfair Paving Schemes in Edinburgh : an investigation of materials and paving patterns

William H. Playfair (1789-1857) was a renowned architect who contributed greatly to the Scottish Enlightenment and was responsible for many of Edinburgh‘s prominent buildings during the early 19th century. The purpose of this report is to provide information on the historic paving schemes associated with Playfair buildings in order to help inform the design of a proposed new paving scheme for the Old College. The centre of the Old College courtyard is currently a gravel surface. A proposal is under consideration to pave some of this area using natural stone. Documenting areas of existing paving associated with Playfair buildings may allow the design and specification of the new paving scheme to reflect the historic paving styles used in the city at the time these buildings were first constructed and used. Not all of the sites described in this study are designed by Playfair; other contemporary buildings were also visited

Analysis of original stone and identification of matching stone for repairs : Robert Burns Statue, Camperdown, Victoria, Australia

The Burns statue in Camperdown Australia is one of the oldest surviving representations of Robert Burns. It was taken from Scotland to Australia in 1882 where it has been on display in a public park for over 125 years. The statue was repaired a number of years ago, and recent vandalism has meant the statue now requires further stone repairs. Samples of both the original and a possible replacement stone (Sydney yellow block sandstone) were sent for analysis. The original stone in the statue is a sandstone typical of west-central Scotland and it is recommended that a stone of this type is used for the repairs. The Sydney yellow block sandstone has different mineral and textural characteristics and is less suitable as a replacement stone. Today there are no building stone quarries in west-central Scotland and almost all sandstone for repairs and new construction is imported from northern England. The stone in the statue is very similar to sandstone from Drumhead quarry near Falkirk, and this site is currently being investigated by the Scottish Stone Liaison Group for reopening. It is recommended that stone from Drumhead quarry is used for the repairs to the statue. Alternative similar sandstones from northern England are also suggested