CÉARD IAD NA CLOCHA NÁDÚRTHA NÁDÚRTHA IS FEARR AGUS CÁIT IS FÉIDIR A ÚSÁID? cloch tírdhreacha

Cén fáth go bhfuil roinnt clocha nádúrtha considered to be soft when they all appear to be hard? The answer lies within ‘relative’ hardness. Mohs scale of hardness was invented in 1812 and compares the relative hardness of ten minerals. Diamond is the hardest and rates a 10, while granite is the toughest natural stone at 6. Limestone comes in at 3 as does its metamorphic counterpart, marble. Softer stone is easier to dress or carve but does not wear or weather quite as well as harder stone. Here we discuss some of the more popular soft stones along with suitable applications.

Clocha neamhrialta

Carraig dhríodair

Is iad aolchloch, gaineamhchloch agus scealla na cineálacha dríodair is coitianta. Cruthaíodh iad seo trí bhrú ollmhór, thar na milliúin bliain, ag laghdú an dríodar a thit go grinneall an aigéin.

Slinnte

The layers in slate are described as being “foliated” and they are easily split apart to create whatever thickness is required. UK slate is considered to be hard and was traditionally used as roofing, while soft slate is found in China, Spain, Italy and the USA. With a broad range of natural slate colours, a multiple array of designs can be achieved, from contemporary to classic, rustic to refined. Slate is often recommended for high traffic areas, thanks to its remarkably durable composition. It is also non-porous and does not easily react with acid liquids. It is fire proof, weather resistant and achieves good slip resistance dues to its riven finish.

Aolchloch

Limestone is a very common building material and is formed mainly from the mineral calcite, derived from the calcium in bones and seashells deposited over the millennia and forced together through pressure. While it also contains magnesium, it is harder and more weather resistant, and can also be polished. Portland stone from the eponymous island in Dorset is probably the single most famous type of limestone and was used to build many of London’s great buildings. It is used for external cladding as well as paving, fireplaces and other internal and external decorative features. Its soft colours are its trademark visual attributes.

Gaineamhchloch

Is dócha gurbh í gaineamhchloch an chloch thógála ba choitianta a úsáideadh roimh 1800, do gach rud ó dhroichid go foirgnimh mhaorga. Mar is féidir a thuiscint ón ainm, cruthaítear é nuair a comhleádh gaineamh, ábhar orgánach, cailcít agus mianraí éagsúla eile faoi bhrú dochreidte thar na mílte bliain. Ar fáil le huigeacht garbh nó mín agus go traidisiúnta curtha ar fáil i bailchríoch neamhlonrach. Go príomha uachtar, dearg nó liath sa RA, braitheann a dath ar na mianraí breise atá laistigh de. Tugann shilice mbáine, agus tabharfaidh iarann ​​​​tint reddish-donnish. Is iad na príomhréimsí feidhme atá aige ná ballaí agus urláir, nó pábháil taobh amuigh.

Marmar

Is díorthach aolchloiche é marmair, a foirmíodh trí mheiteamorfóis teasa agus brú ollmhór thar na milliúin bliain. Cé go bhfuil sé sách bog i gcomparáid le clocha eile, bíonn claonadh ag marmair snasú thar a bheith maith. Go traidisiúnta úsáidtear marmair i doirse agus cabhraíonn sé le bailchríoch ardleibhéil a chruthú.