The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-30
LIMERICK Marble Nearly
Equals Italian.
White as Snow, Non Porous
and Very Fine Grained.
But DikeS, Etc., Make ii Unavailable
for New State House.

Professor Packard has done his work
thoroughly, and his report containing
the results OF il is both Interesting and
Instructive. He first deals with the lime
stone deposits of the State, their geologi-
cal features and age, after which he pro-
ceeds to consider very comprehensively
the limerick marble, OF which there are
three quarries. In the north quarry the
rock be finds.to be a nearly pure marble,
as pure rs any to be found. IL forms a
bed from so to 100 feet thick, everything
the magnetism. II Is snow white, free
from graphite to renoer 1t cloudy. and
crystals OF iron pyrite which, on exposure
to air, would stain and streak the stone
IL Is fine-grained crys llline marble,
considerably coarser than Italian marble,
hut nearly as beautiful. 1t is free from
silica or masses OF quartz. and would
work easily either under the hammer or
the stone saw. Ii contains no tremolite
or tale. In texture il Is homogeneous and
compact, though possibly containing
grains OF white pyroEene. Ii is nearly as
hard as Italian marble. Its sufficient de-
gree of hardness being apparent, IL was
not thought worth while TO go TO the ex-
pense OF ascertaining its crushing weight.
AS to its durability. although no build
ing has been entirely constructed from il,
IL has been used In several buildings in
Providence, notably Hope College, where
ii has been used for window caps and
having been erected in 1922. IL has
weathered well after an exposure OF 70
years, though In some cases becoming
granulated on exposure, due, perhaps, TO
imperfections In the blocks when quar-
ried, since similar surfaces occur at the
quarry. AS to non-porosity and in
capability OF absor bing moisture, the
rock compares iavorsbly with the best
marbles, and il takes a beautiful polish.
Blocks OF moderate size free fIom
joints could he taken from the eastern
side OF the quarry, but owing TO the fire.
quency OF seams and assures, with some
"slickensides, due TO the slipping down
of portions on each other, il would be
very douhtful IL any large number of the
size called for by the specifications could
be quarried.
The marble in the middle quarry is, on
the whole, OF n rather better quality than
that In the north quarry. AS the rock, or
bed, extends down to an indefinite dis
tsnee, the marble is in sufficient quantity
for the erection of the State House. The
marble is now white, contains very few
dark bands. and practically no iron TO
oxydize. IL is non-porous, and in hard
ness and dura ability no fault can be found
with il. 1t is so hard and Of such even,
fine texture as TO be fitted, when care
fully selected, for statuary and orna.
mental purposes or at ieastfeF- small
pieces, vases. etc.
At the western end the rock has been
invaded by trapdike of black, diablose
rock, upward of two feet thick, extend
ing in a slightly flexed course north 40
degrees, east over 100 feet. II is inclined
east 52 degrees, and IL associated with
two smaller dikes, one eight inches in
q ksnly. N Il oIg al
light colored dixie of quartz and pyroxene
three inches thick, which, ribbon-like
extends for over 20 feet through the
rock. The best part of the marble, that is
that free from seams and cracks. occurs
just east of these dikes. Hence there are
spaces comparatively free from joint
planes and fissures and number of
blocks six feet long and four feet thick
might be quarried out.
The deposit at the south quarry con-
tains large amount of fine white,
though fissured, marble. 1he Dexter
quarry is 800 To 500 feet long and 125 feet
wide. The soft white limestone is softer
than the LIMERICK marble and is less
desirable for building purposes but yet
small blocks could be taken out II quar-
ried with care. On the whole, however,
its use as ashlars for large building
could not be advised.
The marble at the Lonsdale quarry,
southeast of Butterfly MILL is white, of a
beautiful appearance. but too limited in
quantity and too much fissured for the
constructions of large buildings.
Professor Packard concludes his report,
by stating that while in color hardness,
crushing weight, non-corossity. ease in
quarrying and durability the LIMERICK
marble Is commendable, he could not
recommend its use in the State House.
To obtain it would involve very large
outlay, as no private concern would be
likely to undertake the quarrying, while