Building Stones

The various types of rocks used in the construction of buildings, dams, roads, etc., and for ornamental paving and roofing purposes are termed as building stones.
Building stones in general should be strong, durable, compact, dense and free from pores, cracks and joints.
Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks are used as building stones. Some igneous and metamorphic rocks such as granite and gneiss are amongst the strongest with a very high degree of crushing strength.
The various rocks which are used as building stones are granite, charnockite (blue granite), diorite, syenite, gabbro, dolerite, trachyte, rhyolite, andesite, sandstone, quartzite, limestone, marble, serpentine, slate, gneiss and laterite.
Polished rock specimens used in the construction of the Maharajah's Palace at Mysore are displayed.