Cross passage flooring choice?

[Flyfisher]

Interesting. So that would include slate as well then?

 

[alison]

If the cork makes you wince every time you go into the passage, how about a sisal or coir floorcovering as an interim measure while you save up for the flags? Not vastly expensive, not inappropriate-looking, practical, light colours available (though the lightest show traffic)...

 

[Penners]

Interesting. So that would include slate as well then?

I would definitely say so. Slate is almost the archetypal stratified stone. Have you ever seen slate being riven? It's remarkable - a quick tap with a hammer on a thin chisel and the layers are then literally ripped apart by hand.

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes, I've seen slate being split many years ago in Wales - somewhere near Ffestiniog. But I've always thought of flagstones as being made of something much harder than slate (although I appreciate that slate is pretty tough in true compression), so I was interested to learn of the wider definition.

 

[Jon Maine]

Yes, I've seen slate being split many years ago in Wales - somewhere near Ffestiniog. But I've always thought of flagstones as being made of something much harder than slate (although I appreciate that slate is pretty tough in true compression), so I was interested to learn of the wider definition.

Definition of Flagstone
Flag´stone`
n. 1. A flat stone used in paving, or any rock which will split into such stones. See Flag, a stone.

 

[Penners]

But I've always thought of flagstones as being made of something much harder than slate

I've always thought of slate as being one of the harder rocks (based on absolutely no specialist knowledge). Yes, it's intensely stratified, but does that necessarily imply softness?

I think it's the fact that slate is dense enough to have been widely used as DPC material that probably gave me this impression.

 

[Jon Maine]

Slate is quite hard but is easy to scratch as is limestone.

"Slate fine-grained rock formed when sedimentary rocks such as shale are metamorphosed by great pressure. Slate splits into perfectly cleaved, broad thin layers; this characteristically regular and planar cleavage is called slaty cleavage. In the formation of slate, pressure causes the flaky minerals within the sedimentary rock, such as mica, clay, and chlorite, to be reoriented; the flat faces of the minerals lie at right angles to the source of the pressure, and the planes of easy cleavage are also at right angles to the source of the pressure. The rock is not necessarily compressed in the same direction as the sedimentary layers were originally laid down, and because the compression crumples and deforms the original sedimentary layers, the planes of slaty cleavage usually cut through the old bedding planes. Slate is intermediate in hardness between mica schists and shale; the better grades are used for roofing."

So I think the hardness can vary and are relative to the cleavage characteristics......

 

[Penners]

I've made something of a study of cleavage characteristics myself.

 

[Jon Maine]

We have had a session of Butt Cleavage before to produce laths........

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh boys, this is a religious holiday.

Glad to see it's not just me stirring up the smut and Happy Easter to all.

 

[Flyfisher]

But I've always thought of flagstones as being made of something much harder than slate

I've always thought of slate as being one of the harder rocks (based on absolutely no specialist knowledge). Yes, it's intensely stratified, but does that necessarily imply softness?

Yes, fair point. I wouldn't describe slate as 'soft' either. Perhaps 'brittle' is a better description?