Whinstone
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Whinstone is a term used in the quarrying industry to describe any hard dark-coloured rock. Examples include the igneous rocks, basalt and dolerite, as well as the sedimentary rock, chert.[1]
Description
Massive outcrops of whinstone occur include the Pentland Hills, Scotland and the Whin Sills, England.
The name 'whin' derives from the sound it makes when struck with a hammer. It is used for road chippings and dry stone walls, but its natural angular shapes do not fit together well and are not easy to build with, and its hardness makes it a difficult material to work. A common use is in the laying of patios and driveways in its ground/by product state called Whindust.
References
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