message from UK

Quoted text begins.where are the slate outcrops in United States - do they come
with Granite as in Blaenau Ffestiniog? There was a tradition
of carving slate fiteplaces in Bethesda and surrounding area
which died out - is there any tradition like that in USA I wonder
End of quote.

Hello to all,

I've been out of touch, doing boring sandstone wall work.
It pays the bills!

This portion of a message ( a week old ) got my
attention, so here is my story.

I live in western New York where there is an abundance
of sandstone, uncarvable limestone , shale and I think
slate. In old cemetaries in the area I am from, you will
find old headstones made from slate. While they are
aroud 100 years old, and very thin, they are usually in
very good condition. The fine and delicate hand-cut
lettering look like they were cut yesterday.

Back then the people used local stone unless they could
afford marble from vermont. The funny thing is that the
slate has weathered much better than the soft vermont
marble.

Moving up to the present, early this spring I visited
the new home of my cousin who lives between Cyuga and
Seneca lakes, in the center of the fingerlake region of
NY. He had some amazing , jet black stone slabs used for
landscaping around his home. The slabs range from 10 to
15 inches thick, and up to 5 feet long, by 3 feet wide.
He said they came from a nearby shale pit. He just got a
truck load dumped off for pennies a pound. Being a
typical practical farmer, he got a life time supply of
great carving stone for next to nothing! He used his own
equipment to shove them into position.

I don't know exactly what this stone is, but it is not
what I call shale. Its very dense, solid, has a
wonderful texture when its pitched. It carves very well
with good sharp chisels. It grinds and polishes great.
The pitched shardes are very sharp. It is extreamly fine
grained, but dosen't have a translucent look when
polished . I'm sure its not marble, but it carves much
like black marble. Also when pitching, it shows a very
strong grain, butunless hit with the right tool , the
right way, the grain is not a factor in carving.

I think its some kind of oil slate or shale,??? I would
appreciate hearing what anyone can tell me about this
stuff!

Thanks, George Graham