196 Henry C. Richards: 



be set down as a much better stone than that from the Barra- 

 bool Hills and as a good stone. 



Bacchus Marsh Stone. — This is not at all a durable stone, on 

 account of its physical and chemical characters. It is light, and 

 has a low crushing strength due to the poor adherence of its 

 particles. Owing to its chemical constitution it is attacked and 

 weakened by the action of carbon dioxide, and especially by the 

 mineral acids. It has a very high absorption, and from the 

 durability of the stone, as seen in Bacchus Marsh and Mel- 

 bourne, cannot be regarded as other than a poor stone. 



Barley Stone. — This is poor, both physically and chemically, 

 as a building stone. It is light, very porous and has an ex- 

 ceedingly low crushing strength. It yields to the attack of 

 carbon dioxide and the mineral acids very readily, owing largely 

 to the carbonates it contains. It is interesting to note that at 

 one time this stone was chosen for the Houses of Parliament, 

 but from the results obtained above, and an examination of the 

 stone in Melbourne structures, it must be considered a very 

 poor stone for building purposes, especially in the city. 



Egerton Stone (Fine-grained.) — Tliis has a fair crushing 

 strength, is rather absorptive, but very resistant to carbon 

 dioxide, and the mineral acids. It has the advantage of being 

 light, dressing easily and well, and from what is known of its 

 weathering properties in the field should be a good, durable 

 stone if precautions are adopted to keep it as dry as possible. 

 The stone has not been used to any extent, but if the quarry 

 opens up favourably, as it promises to do, it should fill the long- 

 felt want of a durable stone with cheap dressing qualities. 



Goarse-yrained. — This is physically weaker than the fine- 

 grained material, but is chemically stable. It dresses easily, 

 and aJthough inferior to the former one, should, with the same 

 ])recautions, prove a good serviceable stone. 



Greendale Stone.- -Th.\& has much the same qualities as the 

 coarse-grained Egerton material. It is light, has a low crush- 

 ing strength, is rather absorptive, but very resistant to tlie 

 action of carbon dioxide and the mineral acids. No opportunity 

 of judging this stone in the field has been obtained, but from 

 t!ie laboratory results it should, if kept reasonably dry, prove 

 a oood serviceable stone. 



