availability of stone

["Clive Murray-White" <clivemw@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Hi Norman et al,

The stories about wastage etc re: stone are often as inspiring as they are
tragic.

The scrap pile at Cairns marble, the quarriers and processors of Chillagoe
marble (Nth Queensland Australia) would send most of my fellow listers into
ecstasy, I often presume that in many other parts of the world this scrap
pile would supply numerous small craft style businesses, it may happen one
day but it sure hasn't yet.

On a brighter note and in contrast to Norman's story Cairns Marble has found
a trendy way to value add to "scrap" white marble, they crush it to the
ideal pebble size and tumble polish them. These polished stones are used in
a vast array of contemporary garden features, from pot plants to whole
garden beds.

The most surprising thing is that they make more money from these tumbled
stones than they do from a pure quarried block per Tonne. The owner said to
me once that he could make much more money if he tumbled everything,
fortunately he can't bring himself to do that as he loves big blocks of the
stuff far more.

I think the real point of this note is that imaginative stonies can find
very lucrative ways to use scrap.

Regards to all Clive

Sculptor Clive Murray-White
Web: http://www.cowwarr.com/CliveMurray-White/