KE MAJANE A BONOLO A TLHAHO KE FE MME A KA SEBEDISWA KAE? lejoe la naha

Hobaneng ba bang majoe a tlhaho 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.

Majoe a sa tloaelehang

Lefika la sedimentary

Limestone, sandstone le shale ke mefuta e atileng haholo ea majoe a sedimentary. Tsena li entsoe ka khatello e kholo, ka limilione tsa lilemo, tse theolelang mobung o oeleng fatše oa leoatle.

Letlapa

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.

Lejoe la mokoetla

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.

Lejoe la lehlabathe

Sandstone mohlomong e ne e le lejoe la moaho le neng le sebelisoa haholo pele ho 1800, bakeng sa ntho e ngoe le e ngoe ho tloha ho marokho ho isa meahong e metle. Joalo ka ha ho ka hlalosoa lebitsong la eona, e thehoa ha lehlabathe, lintho tse phelang, calcite le mefuta e meng ea liminerale li kopantsoe hammoho tlas'a khatello e makatsang ka lilemo tse likete. E fumaneha ka 'mala o mahoashe kapa o motle 'me ka tloaelo e fanoa ka matt. Haholo-holo tranelate, e khubelu kapa e bohlooho UK, 'mala oa eona o itšetlehile ka liminerale tse eketsehileng tse ka hare ho eona. Silika e fana ka bosoeu, athe tšepe e tla fana ka tint e bofubelu bo sootho. Libaka tsa eona tse ka sehloohong tsa ts'ebeliso ke marako le fatše, kapa ho patoa ka ntle.

Mabole

'Mabole ke motsoako oa lejoe la mokoetla, le entsoeng ka ho fetoha ha mocheso o matla haholo le khatello ka lilemo tse limilione. Le hoja a batla a le bonolo ha a bapisoa le majoe a mang, 'mabole a atisa ho bentša hantle haholo. Ka tloaelo 'mabole o sebelisoa mamating' me o thusa ho theha qetello e phahameng.