Centre for Masonry Construction
The BRE / British Stone Stone List

Introduction

Full project details

Stone list

BRE Home Page

British Stone
Home Page

 Petrography | Durability | Test Results 

Technical Data Sheet
Baxtonlaw Sandstone 
Baxtonlaw Quarry, Co. Durham
Compiled September 1997

This data sheet was compiled by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). Where possible, data collected in earlier surveys has been used to help interpret the test results. The data sheet was compiled in September 1997 using the results of tests carried out to the proposed European Standards. The work was carried out by BRE as part of a Partners in Technology Programme funded by the Department of the Environment and Dunhouse Quarry Co. Ltd and does not represent an endorsement of the stone by BRE.

General

Petrography
The stone is a pale-cream yellow sandstone from the Millstone Grit Series (Carboniferous). The stone is formed from fine quartz grains of even texture. The grain size is consistently less than 0.2mm and no large grain, pores of flaws were seen in the sample. The bedding planes are closely spaced (<15mm) and delineated by darker minerals of the same grain size. The mineralogy is dominated by quartz and white mica. There is some secondary orange-brown iron staining that cross-cuts the bedding.

Expected Durability and Performance
It is important that the results from the from individual tests are not viewed in isolation. They should be considered together and compared to the performance of the stone in existing buildings and other uses. Sandstones from the Millstone Grit series are traditionally acknowledged as generally being a very durable building and paving stone and have been used extensively in many towns and cities in the UK. Baxtonlaw sandstone appears to be a very durable stone that is not effected by acid rain or air pollution. The low weight lost in the harsh saturated sodium sulphate crystallisation test indicates good resistance to salt damage (for example in coastal locations or from de-icing salts) and the stone seems to have good frost resistance. The strength of the stone is comparable with other sandstones. The abrasion resistance is comparable with hard wearing limestones and with some York paving stones and should be suitable for use in heavily trafficed areas.
 
Overall, Baxtonlaw should be suitable for use in most aspects of construction including flooring, paving, load bearing masonry and cladding.

Test Results - Baxtonlaw Sandstone
 

Safety in Use  
Slip Resistance (Note 1) 
Wet: 73 
 Values > 40 are considered safe 
Abrasion Resistance(Note 1) 
22.0
 Values <23.0 are considered suitable for use in heavily trafficked areas  
Strength under load 
1) Compression(Note 2) 
123 MPa 
 Loaded perpendicular to the bedding ambient humidity  
2) Bending (Note 1) 
21.1-24.9 MPa 
 Loaded perpendicular to the bedding - ambient humidity  
Porosity and Water Absorption 
1) Porosity (Note 3) 
14.8% 
2) Saturation Coefficient (Note 3)  
0.65
3) Water Absorption 
4.3% (by wt) 
4) Bulk specific gravity 
2268 kg/m3 
Resistance to Frost   
Freeze/Thaw Test (Note 1)   The samples showed no evidence of damage after 120 test cycles  
Resistance to Acidity  
Acid Immersion Test (Note 4)  
Pass
 All samples passed the test with no splitting or delamination  
Resistance to Salt  
Sodium Sulphate Crystallisation Test (Note 14  
Mean: 10.0% wt loss 
 (saturated test)  
(Test methods Note 1 = prEn1341, Note 2 = prEN 1342, Note 3 = prEn 1341 /BRE 141, Note 4 = BRE 141)
All tests were carried out at BRE between July and September 1996)

Back to top of page | Back to stone list