Baildhuj Stones of Victoria. 195 



GENERAL SU^fMART OF RESULTS. 



Stawell Stone. — This has excellent weathering- properties, as 

 shown by its low absorption, great resistance to corrosion by 

 i-arbon dioxide, and to the action of mineral acids. It has a 

 very liigh crushing strength, and is an expensive stone to dress. 

 Chemically the stone is very stable, and microscopically appears 

 ahhost the ideal weathering sandstone. The objections which 

 may be raised to the stone are its cost of dressing due to the 

 initial hardness and the '' flints," the presence of current bed- 

 ding, and its cold appearance. On the other hand, it is the 

 best weathering sandstone in Victoria, and blocks of any rea- 

 sonable size may be obtained, so that for public V)uildings it is an 

 eminently suitable one. 



Dunkeld Stone. — This has excellent weather resisting proper- 

 ties, on account of its Ioav absorption, its resistance to carbon 

 dioxide and the mineral acids. Its crushing strength is only 

 fair, but it is considerably cheaper than Stawell stone to dress. 

 A grave objection to this stone is its appearance on weathering, 

 due to the very frequent current bedding, to the differential iron- 

 staining, and to the pitting along the bedding planes, owing to 

 the falling out of fine powdery material originally present. It 

 must be regarded as only a second-class stone. 



Barrahool Hills Stone. — This has a very high absorption, 

 <iik], while resistant to the effect of carbon dioxide, is teadily 

 affected to a large extent by mineral acids. It is light, has a 

 low-crushing strength, and is easily dressed. An examination of 

 the buildings of this stone, together with the results of the 

 above tests, indicates that the stone is only a fair one, and 

 that when used in rough dressed blocks of small size gives tlie 

 best results. 



Apollo Bay Stone. — This is fairly compact, has a medium 

 iibsorption, is very resistant, to carljon dioxide, but readily acted 

 on by mineral acids. It has a good crushing strength, and 

 works both freely and well. Objections may be urged against 

 the colour, especially after weathering for some time, and to 

 the action of acids on it ; but in virtue of its absorption, its 

 dressing properties, and its known weathering properties it must 



