| Project name: | Building and decorative stone of the Czech Republic |
|---|---|
| Project duration: | Continously |
| Project implementer: | Czech Geological Survey |
| Funding resource: | Czech Geological Survey (internal project) |
Building and decorative stone
An internal CGS project involves the long-term gathering of information on rocks of the Czech Republic used for decorative and construction purposes, its storage in an identically named database, and its accessibility via public applications. The information pertains to the properties of rocks, the current status of quarries, their extraction and use. The aim is to inform the professional and general public about the possibility of using rocks for construction, landscape architecture and art.
Applications
Decorative stones application provides access to the database of Building and decorative stones in the Czech Republic. It allows search information about decorative stones by commercial name, petrography, physico-mechanical properties of rocks, mineral composition, color, granuality, mining location and way of use.
Map application is usable directly in the field thanks to its geolocation using GPS. It briefly and clearly describes geologically interesting sites in the Czech Republic – natural geological outcrops, caves and karst phenomenon or remains of human activities, mainly of mining origin. Description of the geosite includes a photo, note of its protection and other references. Moreover one can choose layer Building and decorative stones with basic information about displayed objects. Topographic and orthophoto maps of the State Administration of Land Surveying and Cadastre serve as background maps.
What are building and decorative stones
The Czech Republic has a long tradition of quarrying and processing stone for construction and decorative purposes. Building and decorative stones are defined as rocks of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary origin with suitable physical, mechanical, chemical and technological properties, taking into account aesthetic properties, which are used in architecture and sculpture. The properties of the rocks are suitable for coarse (building blocks, pavers, kerbs, etc.) or fine (honed and polished stone, and stone sculpture) stone production.
Database development and content
Due to increased demand for high-quality natural stone, the Czech Geological Survey developed the database in 2003 in the manner of similar projects in Europe. It contains information on the petrographic properties of rocks used for construction and decorative purposes, on quarry sites, and on buildings for which the rocks were used. Individual information categories contain extensive photographic documentation, which is continuously updated. At the same time, a collection is being created, which includes rock samples and thin sections that are prepared from them for viewing the appearance and composition of rocks under a microscope.
Accessible applications enable you to search the database using various criteria (trade names, petrographic, physical and mechanical properties of rocks, mineral composition, colour, grain size, extraction sites or use) or a map view.
Data source and maintenance
The thematic content of the database was based on the books Ušlechtilé stavební a sochařské kameny České republiky (“Ornamental Building and Sculpture Stone of the Czech Republic“, 1994) by V. Rybařík, Praha kamenná (“Stone Structures of Prague“, 1996) by D. Březinová et al, and Kamenná tvář Brna (“The Stone Facade of Brno“, 1993) by I. Mrázek, which are the most comprehensive publications of its kind released in the Czech Republic thus far. In addition, research was also based on a number of other articles, journals and compilations on stonemasonry. Additional data and updates are being added in cooperation with other current CGS projects, with many other experts including stonemasons and quarry owners, and with other institutes.