Hull Geological Society
Common urban rocks -
Portland Stone
This is a pale fossiliferous limestone (sedimentary rock) from the Upper Jurassic of Dorset. It is used as a dimension stone in buildings and can be carved. When it is etched by acid rain the fossils are more resistant and start to stand proud of the rock making it rough to the touch.
It was the official rock of military headstone, which are maintained in cemeteries by the War Graves Commission, but these now seem to be being replaces by a grey granite.
In Hull you can see Portland Stone on the outside of the Ferens Art Gallery, the R38 Airship disaster memorial in Western Cemetery and War Graves in Western and Northern Cemeteries.
Copyright - Mike Horne and Hull Geological Society 2020
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