APAKAH BATU SEMULAJADI YANG LEBIH LEMBUT DAN DI MANA IA BOLEH DIGUNAKAN? batu landskap

Mengapa beberapa batu alam 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.

Batu yang tidak teratur

Batu enapan

Batu kapur, batu pasir dan syal adalah jenis batu sedimen yang paling biasa. Ini terbentuk melalui tekanan yang luar biasa, selama berjuta-juta tahun, menanggung sedimen yang telah jatuh ke dasar lautan.

Batu tulis

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.

Batu kapur

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.

Batu pasir

Batu pasir mungkin merupakan batu binaan yang paling biasa digunakan sebelum tahun 1800, untuk segala-galanya daripada jambatan hingga bangunan megah. Seperti yang boleh disimpulkan daripada namanya, ia terbentuk apabila pasir, bahan organik, kalsit dan pelbagai mineral lain digabungkan bersama di bawah tekanan yang luar biasa selama beribu tahun. Tersedia dengan sama ada tekstur kasar atau halus dan dibekalkan secara tradisional dalam kemasan matt. Terutamanya krim, merah atau kelabu di UK, warnanya bergantung pada mineral tambahan yang terkandung di dalamnya. Silika memberikan keputihan, manakala besi akan memberikan warna coklat kemerahan. Bidang penggunaan utamanya ialah dinding dan lantai, atau penurapan luaran.

Marmar

Marmar ialah terbitan batu kapur, yang terbentuk melalui metamorfosis haba dan tekanan yang besar selama berjuta-juta tahun. Walaupun agak lembut berbanding dengan batu lain, marmar cenderung untuk mengilat dengan sangat baik. Secara tradisinya marmar digunakan di pintu dan membantu menghasilkan kemasan mewah.