Stone in Archaeology Database


Ancaster Hard White

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Local Name(s): Ancaster Hard White. Example of Ancaster Hard White
Stone Group: Sedimentary
Stone Type: Limestone
Geology:
Era:   Mesozoic
Period:   Jurassic
Epoch:   Middle
Geological Sub-Divisons:

Inferior Oolite Group, Upper Lincolnshire Limestone Formation.

General Colour Description:

Pale honey to a cream colour.

Hand Specimen Description:

A medium grained, hard, well cemented oolitic limestone with a uniform texture and very little shell. It is well sorted with a rough feel. The stone can vary in composition within the quarries showing considerable variation in colour and grain (Clifton-Taylor & Simmons 1987: 85).

General Comments:

The name 'Ancaster Stone' is given to stone which is produced in the immediate area, rather than restricted to output of quarries from the village of the same name (Alexander 1995: 112).

Stone Identifiers: Calcareous,  Fossiliferous,  Oolitic.
Reacts dilute to HCl? Yes