COMMON BUILDING STONES IN INDIA

  The commonly used building stones in India include granite, basalt and trap, limestone, marbles, gneiss, laterite, slate, etc.

 Granite:- 

Granite is essentially an igneous rock and is hard and durable. Most of these rocks possess excellent building properties, like high strength, very low abrasion value, good resistance to frost and other weathering agencies, and are available in different appealing color's. It is used for facing work, walls, bridge piers, columns, steps, etc. Th ese rocks are mainly found in Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

 

Limestone:-

They are sedimentary rocks composed mainly of calcium carbonate. They show great variation in their properties and, hence, all types are not useful as building stones. They can be used as road metal for construction of floors, steps, walls, etc. Limestone is also used for the manufacture of cement and lime. Th e use of limestone as facing stones should be avoided in areas where the air is polluted with industrial gases or in coastal regions where air from the sea can attack them. India has extensive deposits of limestone in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal. 

                     

Marble:-

Th ese are metamorphic rocks and have been formed from limestone under high temperatures. Marbles vary greatly in colour, structure and texture and most of them are suitable both as an ornamental stone and as a construction material. Th ese stones can take brilliant polish. India has got fairly widespread deposits of marble and it is mainly exploited from Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat. 

 Basalt and Trap:-

These are also igneous rocks and are generally heavier and darker than granites and also stronger, but may contain cavities and pores within them. They are extensively used for rubble masonry, foundation work and road construction. They are mainly found in Maharashtra, Bihar, Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. 

 Sandstone:-

Th ese are sedimentary rocks and consist mainly of quartz. Sandstones occur in many colours. Th e most suitable and durable type is that which is light coloured, having silica, cement and a homogeneous, compact texture. It can be used for steps, facing work, flooring, columns, etc. India has immense reserves of really good quality sandstones in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar. 

Laterite:-

It is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of oxides of iron and aluminum. Laterites are of dull red or brown colour and their important property is that they are quite soft and plastic when cut from the natural bed rock but become hard on exposure. It is used for rough stone masonry work and is sometimes used in place of bricks. They are mainly found in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. 

Gneiss:-

Gneiss is a metamorphic rock and closely resembles granite in its building properties. But sometimes it may be rich in mica and useless as a building stone. They can be used for street paving, rough stone masonry work, etc. They are mainly found in southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and also in states like Bihar, Bengal and Orissa. 

 Slate:-

Slate is a metamorphic rock and splits into thin sheets having smooth surfaces along the natural bedding planes. In building construction their use is limited to roofi ng purpose for ordinary buildings or as paving or insulating materials. Slate occurs in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.

 Kankar:-

Kankar is a sedimentary rock and is a form of impure limestone. It is used as road metal for the manufacture of hydraulic lime, etc. It occurs among the diff erent parts of north and central India. 

Murum:-

Murum is a metamorphic rock. It is a form of decomposed laterite and is deep brown or red in colour. It is a soft rock and can be used for fancy paths and garden walls. It occurs mainly in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.