White stone

Perhaps not everyone knows that the famous white stone, awarding Russia the epithet "white stone", which served as material for construction and manufacture of ornaments of many palaces and temples, to pass the test for centuries - an ancient limestone is a natural material. This widespread rock originated on Earth millions of years ago at the bottom of ancient seas in marine sediments and occupies more than 10% of the sediment cover on our planet. Limestone is composed almost entirely of calcite, and has a unique internal structure: the volume of internal pores reaches 20-30% of the stone, making the mineral "breathe". This explains the high frost resistance of white stone, and hence its longevity. Film weathering, which eventually covered with material that prevents further chemical destruction of the stone. The hardness of calcite crystals attached limestone high strength, and fineness, and the presence of pores makes it one of the most convenient material handling. The latter property is largely determined the role of white stone in the architecture of many countries, including the ancient Russia. Extraction and processing of limestone mining limestone is fairly simple - way to breaking. It was named so because the top layer of rock raised crowbars and smashed the hammer blows of the iron wedges. Small pieces of stone were dragged by hand, for larger applied gate type device, which is driven by a ten to twenty workers. Sawing stone blocks was carried out manually by a simple iron saw. While working at the cutting site was added sand (as an abrasive) and water, making stone softer and more pliable. Part of the extracted limestone went on firing to get the lime pieces and components designed for the building foundations and walls, and flat plates were on the external and internal finishing of buildings. Treatment of products made of white stone and carried out manually: the surface roughness cleaved a special tool, and then polished with river sand and iron float. Sanding curved elements are made separate floats, which reproduces the form of projections. To make the finished products extra strength they were dried in the sun or in ovens. History of products from limestone to Russia using limestone from the time construction began Prince Andrew Bogoliubsky Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, in 1165. According to legend, the stone for the building was brought from the Bulgar kingdom over which the prince had won the year before the start of construction of the church. White stone carved reliefs adorned the walls of buildings, and a central figure in the composition was seated on the throne of King David, with his left hand holding a hymnal, and doeth right blessing. However, before the church of the Intercession on the Nerl was built white stone church of Boris and Gleb, in the village Kideksha near Suzdal, and the date of its construction is called in 1152. Further construction in Russia was carried out of local limestone. Its production started by the decree of Dmitry Donskoy, who has decided to surround the Moscow Kremlin a stone wall. Since then, the white stone was used widely for both construction and decoration of buildings with ornaments and portals. White and yellow limestone myachkovskie become an ideal material for creating exquisite carvings and sculptural compositions, and craftsmen who worked on them, called kamnesechtsami. One of the most beautiful white-stone buildings was the Church of the Sign, built in the village Dubrovitsy, near Podolsk. It was built of blocks of myachkovskogo limestone and decorated with wonderful carvings in the form of leaves and grapes, climbing the walls. Skill builders and stone carvers possible to create a temple, considered one of the masterpieces of world art. For the manufacture of white stone reliefs has been actively used in the second half of XV century. It was then that the architect and sculptor Vasily Yermolin were made two bas-relief mounted on the Saviour (formerly called Frolova) Tower of Moscow Kremlin. From the outside gate was installed emblem of the city of Moscow, depicting Saint George. And twenty years after the event, in 1466, toward the tower, facing the Kremlin, adorned with bas-relief with the figure of Dimitri of Thessalonica. But the peak of the popularity of white stone in Russia occurred at the beginning of the XIX century. Then was made a lot of sculptures and carved ornaments, among which more than three sculptor Ivan Vitali. Soon after the victory of Russian people in World War II in 1812 on Sparrow Hills began construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, as thanks for the intercession of God and as a monument to the courage of Russian people. As conceived by architect AL Vitberg this grand structure was to be seen from anywhere in the city. Material for the foundation of the temple was chosen as limestone. To make its delivery is not too expensive, mining of the stone began in the village Grigorovo, located near Moscow. However, due to the presence of underground streams and the fragility of the soils on the Sparrow Hills building had to be completed and choose another location for the house - on the Moscow River, not far from the Kremlin. After construction on the Sparrow Hills were suspended and Grigorovski development of limestone. This deposit is later returned, 15 years later, when started new construction of the temple. Used for the walls thick white limestone, is being developed in the vicinity of Kolomna. Also, for the inner and outer cladding used other natural stones - dark green labradorite, pink Shoksha quartzite, colored marbles. Christ the Savior Cathedral was built nearly 40 years, and after work looking white block, like a giant iceberg. So he stayed in the memory of his contemporaries, even after this majestic building was destroyed. Since the time of use as a finishing material of white stone in Russia there have been many great architectural treasures, some of which are famous not only in Russia but also abroad. Some of them, unfortunately, have not survived to our times, but most of the churches, palaces and manors admire its beauty and elegance of finish, and to this day. The use of limestone in our time with mid-century development of natural stone in Russia have been held explosive way. On the one hand, it is much easier work of people, with another - dramatically reduced the use of construction and decoration of limestone. The reason for this was the specific fields of white stone that lies very thin layers, alternating with marls and clays. Blasting caves with limestone layers, and their accompanying useless breed, mixing them and making it difficult for quarrying. In addition, the country has been actively developing rail links, & Stone has become cheaper and easier to deliver a distance. The most common at the time was the finish of granite, marble, gabbro, produced in the Urals, the Ukraine or the Caucasus. Almost completely stopped the development of limestone for cladding in Myachkovskih careers: a stone from there shipped rarely, for special orders. Currently, the development of limestone has been actively revived. More and more houses became to acquire an elegant white-stone finish, returning Russia forgotten the epithet "white stone". Veneer restoration of ancient monuments are engaged in teams of skilled professionals and stone carvers. Their new work is not inferior to the creatures of the ancient masters, but owing to the use of new advanced tools, carving has become more elegant, refined. The newly opened across Russia quarry permit supply specialists for stone processing limestones of various kinds and colors - from the dazzling snow-white to the precious yellow. But experts in stone processing are not limited to stone only Russian oil fields: the limestone is successfully delivered to and from foreign countries, including those from Italy.