NDEAPI MATHOMBO AKANYORWA AKASIKWA UYE ANOGONA KUSHANDISWA KUPI? landscape stone

Sei vamwe matombo chaiwo 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.

Matombo asina kurongeka

Sedimentary rock

Limestone, sandstone uye shale ndiwo anonyanya kuzivikanwa marudzi e sedimentary rock. Izvi zvakaumbwa kuburikidza nedzvinyiriro huru, pamusoro pemamiriyoni emakore, zvichidzika pasi pevhu rakanga rawira pasi pegungwa.

Slate

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.

Limestone

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.

Sandstone

Sandstone ingangove ndiro rainyanya kushandiswa dombo rekuvaka risati rasvika 1800, kune zvese kubva kumabhiriji kusvika kune zvivakwa zvakanaka. Sezvingave zvichitaurwa kubva kuzita rayo, inoumbwa apo jecha, organic zvinhu, calcite uye akasiyana emamwe maminerari zvakasanganiswa pamwechete pasi pekumanikidzwa kunoshamisa pamusoro pemireniyamu. Inowanikwa pamwe neyakaomarara kana yakanaka mameseji uye yakajairika inopihwa mukupedzisa matt. Kunyanya kirimu, tsvuku kana grey muUK, ruvara rwayo rwunotsamira pane mamwe mamineral arimo. Silika inopa kuchena, nepo simbi ichapa tsvuku-brown tint. Nzvimbo dzayo huru dzekushandisa madziro uye pasi, kana paving yekunze.

Marble

Marble inotorwa kubva kune limestone, yakaumbwa kuburikidza nemetamorphosis yekupisa kukuru uye kudzvanywa kwemamiriyoni emakore. Kunyangwe zvakapfava zvichienzaniswa nemamwe matombo, marble anowanzo kupururudza zvinoshamisa. Pachinyakare marble inoshandiswa mumasuo uye inobatsira kugadzira kupera kwepamusoro.