Incorporating stone into a
landscape can blend well with the natural environment and provide a durable
building material, but at what cost? I wanted to find out more about the mining
process of bluestone, some of the hidden effects of using it in the landscape,
and whether there are any alternatives to its use.
What the heck is bluestone?
Map of the Devonian Period-- 400 million years ago
Back when North America, Greenland,
and Europe were united into a single Northern hemisphere landmass, and an ocean
covered about 85% of the globe, hard, fine-grained sedimentary sandstone was
forming. Fast forward 400 million years, today this beautiful stone can be seen
as hardscape in our patios, pathways, fireplaces, and much more. Commonly seen
in shades of greys, blues, browns, greens, and rusts, the term "bluestone" applies to all variations regardless of color. The majority of the stone is
quarried from New York and Pennsylvania.
Vintage bluestone mining operation in Portageville, NY
A great advantage in the mining
process is that it easily splits along the bedding planes. After it’s mined,
the stone often goes to a fabricator to be to be cut down to the desired size.
Bluestone Quarry, Hancock, NY
According to New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), any person who proposes to mine
more than 1,000 tons, or 750 cubic yards whichever is less, of minerals from
the earth within a year must obtain a permit from DEC. For this, one must submit a Mining Permit
Application, Mined Land Organizational Report, Environmental Assessment form,
and a Mine Land-Use Form.
Sometimes the areas that are
explored for mining operations are near bodies of water, and although obtaining
these particular permits can be more difficult, when explored, these activities
can adversely affect, or destroy the delicate ecosystems in these areas.
According to an article by Mother Earth Living, entitled Green Patio Options, stone quarrying can result in problems with
sediment in nearby bodies of water. Also, in addition to scarring the landscape,
stone dust is hazardous to the workers, from the miners to the masons.
Luis, Alexis, and Gehovany relaxing on bluestone on our lunch break.
If you look really close you may notice the landing stone at the bottom has a fern fossil.
But there has to be something good about using it…
One of the more recent landscaping
jobs I worked on with bluestone was for a person with stage 4 cancer. She is a
nature photographer and I’ve always got the impression from her that her
outdoor living space, from the stonewalls, pathways, and patios, to the waterfall
and native plant meadows, are more than just a yard to her. I feel she has more
of a personal connection than a lot of folks have with their home landscape.
For example, when it was decided to remove an Echium candicans (Pride of Madeira) from her yard to make way for
new plants, she made sure we repotted it and found a new home for it. I believe
her garden and landscape as a whole, including the stone, helps with her
healing process.
What are some alternatives?
Reclaimed brick and stone can be
found at construction salvage centers like Urban Ore. Internet websites like
Craigslist can be great for finding reclaimed and surplus materials. Choosing
resources like this can greatly reduce material going to the landfill, and the
randomness of the materials can help to create beautiful mosaic patios.
Larger spacing can allow for permeability.
“Embodied energy” is crucial to
consider when choosing a building material. How much energy did it take to find
it, extract it, process it, and install it? And, is it good for our overall
health?
I pinched my finger between two pieces of bluestone.
Sources:
britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/160322/Devonian-Period
dec.ny.gov/lands/5025.html
dec.ny.gov/lands/25000.html
motherearthliving.com/gardening/nuts--bolts365634835583863653472.aspx#axzz38vw7YxGG
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