This data sheet was compiled by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). It is base on data from tests carried out by Sandbergs (1994) and Stangers (1986) and information collected in earlier BRE surveys. The data sheet was compiled in September 1997. 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 
The quarry is about 4 miles north of Annan on the B722. The entrance to the quarry is on the left-hand side of the road. The quarry was reopened in 1982 having been closed in 1946. However, Corsehill was available last century. There are good stocks of stone. 

Petrography 
1) Macroscopic  
Corsehill is from the New Red Sandstone of Triassic age. It is a fine-grained stone, red in colour. Stone is extracted from a 15m face and is available at depths of upto 1.2m on bed although 900mm is the average size. Exceptionally good lengths of up to 3m are obtainable. 
2) Microscopic 
The stone is composed of detrital quartz, opaline silica, feldspars and occasional mica crystals. Iron minerals are abundant as both black and brown haematite. Occasional green amophour material is also present. Some samples show alltered quartz grains with iron oxide and other alteration products in the pore spaces. Coarser samples appear to be less altered with silica cement more prominent. 

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 New Red Sandstone 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. Corsehill sandstone appears to be a durable stone that is not effected by acid rain or air pollution.However, the high weight lost in the harsh saturated sodium sulphate crystallisation test indicates limited resistance to salt damage (for example in coastal locations or from de-icing salts). The compressive strength of the stone is towrds the lower end of the range for sandstone but is comparable with stronger limestones. The flexural strength is towards the lower end of the range for sandstones and if used for paving then the units may need to be thicker than those for some other sandstones. 

Overall, Corsehill should be suitable for use in most aspects of construction including flooring, paving, load bearing masonry and cladding. 

Test Results

Safety in Use
Slip Resistance (Note 1)	Not tested	Values > 40 are considered safe
Abrasion Resistance(Note 1)	Not tested	Values <23.0 are considered suitable for use in heavily trafficked areas
Strength under load
1) Compression(Note 5)	59.5 MPa	Loaded perpendicular to the bedding, dry
	40.0 MPa	Loaded perpendicular to the bedding, wet
	47.5 MPa	Loaded parallel to the bedding, dry
	27.4 Mpa	Loaded parallel to the bedding, wet
2) Bending (Note 5)	5.7 MPa	Bedding unknown, dry
	3.4 Mpa	Bedding unknown, wet
Porosity and Water Absorption
1) Porosity (Note 3)	18.6 - 25.4
2) Saturation Coefficient (Note 3)	0.64 - 0.66
3) Water Absorption	Not determined
4) Bulk specific gravity	Not determined
Resistance to Frost
Freeze/Thaw Test (Note 1)	Not determined
Resistance to Acidity
Acid Immersion Test (Note 4)	Pass
Resistance to Salt
Sodium Sulphate Crystallisation Test (Note 14 (saturated test)	Mean: 92% wt loss

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