‘Bulletin No. 7 _ May 26, 1920, Bass et M. M. LEIGHTON | 39, 65/4: COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANT. bu 7 DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL APPAIRS James F. Woodward, Secretary BURBAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY George H. Ashley, State Geologist ee en A HICH-GRADE BUILDING STONE IN GREENE COUNTY. By George H. Ashley Recent studies by the State Geological Survey reveal the fact that hidden away in Greene County is what may prove to be one of the finest general building stones in the State. The most popular building stone in the United States today is the limestone from Bedford, Indiana and Bowling pvsonh Kentucky. ‘This Stone is light gray and even grained, differing from most limestones in having a grain like sandstone. . It is massive, so that blocks of o . te lle any dimension can be cuarried, and is soft enough to be worked readily, but it hardens on exposure. It can be carved into statuary or orna- re mental trimmings and keeps its color. Because of these qualities the Bedfora Stone is usec from one end of the country to the other. Phe stone in Greene County so closely resenbles the Bedford stone a) that average person Hote not tell them avart. The Greene County product however is a sandstone and therefore has en advantage in thet . it is not affected in the same way aS limestone. It is the same even light eray as the Bedford stone, and buildings in Waynesburg erected .. Sot te ls, ve he ynetes it steels 5 > 4 Aa Zz ( 15 or 20 years ago showing neither iron streaks or other stains indi- cate that in a rural district the color remains as clear as in the freshly quarried stone. The Greene County stone is massive bedded and remarkably even- prained both with and across the bedding. Blocks can be gotten out as large eS can be handled. The stone is soft and easily worked when freshly quarried but the surface hardens with time. Tool marks on the Stone in buildings 15 or 20 years old still show as sharp as when cut, The stone neither spalls nor weathers and can be cut into statuary or ornamental pieces, as shown by the Soldiers and Sailors monument at Waynesburg. Indeed, the Greene County stone seems to be ideal for office buildings, residences and monuments. It has however at present, two hancicayvs, So far as yet tracec, it lies in the hill in such a way as to require underground mining or very heavy stripping. In the second place. Waynesburg, near which the stone has been quarried, is connected with the outside world only by a narrow gauge railroad, These facts were brought out in a recent preliminary study of the stone by J. French Robinson, Geologist of the State Survey in the Devartinent of Interme1l Affairs, The Survey plens to extend its study to determine whether the stone occurs only in a pocket or whether stone of Similar character is widespread. If the latter proves to be the face, doubtless places will be found where the stone can be quarried cheaper. 3 =i , ii iW