Global Heritage Stone: Worldwide Examples of Heritage Stones

Heritage stones are building and ornamental stones that have special significance in human culture. The papers in this volume discuss a wide variety of such materials, including stones from Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Australia. Igneous (basalt, porphyry, granite), sedimentary (sandstone, limestone) and metamorphic (marble, quartzite, gneiss, soapstone, slate) stones are featured. These have been utilized over long periods of time for a wide range of uses contributing to the historical fabric of the built environment. Many of these stones are of international significance and potential Global Heritage Stone Resources – stones that have the requisite qualities for international recognition by the Heritage Stones Subcommission of the International Union of Geological Sciences. The contributions in this volume bring together diverse information on these stones, ranging from their geological setting and quarry locations to mechanical properties, current availability and uses over time. As such, the papers can serve as an entry into the literature on these important stones.
Indiana Limestone: America's building stone Available to Purchase
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Published:October 21, 2020
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CitationNelson R. Shaffer, 2020. "Indiana Limestone: America's building stone", Global Heritage Stone: Worldwide Examples of Heritage Stones, J. T. Hannibal, S. Kramar, B. J. Cooper
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Abstract
Indiana Limestone is one of the most used and versatile building stones in the USA. It is a uniform, carbonate grainstone formed during the Mississippian Subperiod of the Carbonifereous. The stone has excellent physical properties, good workability, fire resistance, durability, sustainability, reserves sufficient for hundreds of years, remarkable history, and is available in pleasing colours and textures. Indiana Limestone is used extensively for important buildings, homes, or carved as accents and sculptures, as well as other uses. At one time it was estimated that 60–80% of important US stone buildings were built with Indiana Limestone. This stone has been used for significant, even iconic buildings such as the Empire State Building and the Yankee Stadium, the Pentagon and many other government buildings, even religious structures such as the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, notable houses such as the Biltmore House in North Carolina, many Chicago landmarks, plus libraries, research centres, academic buildings and museums, across the USA. Sculptures throughout the USA and other countries are made of Indiana Limestone. The stone has good sustainability and is incorporated into the very culture of the state of Indiana and America. Indiana Limestone merits designation as a Global Heritage Stone Resource.
- building stone
- buildings
- carbonate rocks
- Carboniferous
- color
- construction materials
- Indiana
- Lawrence County Indiana
- limestone
- Meramecian
- Mississippian
- Monroe County Indiana
- ornamental materials
- Paleozoic
- physical properties
- Salem Limestone
- sedimentary rocks
- structures
- textures
- United States
- Upper Mississippian
- Indiana Limestone
- Global Heritage Stone Resource