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Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Quarry Verification, Testing and Stone Purchase

 


 

The 39,000sm sandstone-clad Ontario Legislative Building was erected in 1893 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style to the initial designs of Architect Richard A. Waite. Several types of red sandstone including Credit Valley and Sackville sandstone were used on the building.

Stone Sourcing (2024)
was awarded to ArconTEST Incorporated to verify the supply potential, obtain specimens and test two sandstone types identified as suitable replacement material for pre-purchase and use on future stone conservation projects at the Legislative Building.

ArconTEST conservators visited the St Bees Grange quarry in Cumbria UK and the Callow Hill Buckholt quarry in Herefordshire in late 2024 to review the operations and determine if suitable stone could be supplied from each quarry.

Samples of stone from both quarries were subsequently received at our Toronto laboratory for verification testing as follows::

  • Petrographic Analysis (ASTM C-1721)

  • X-ray Diffraction (Standard Methodology to Determine the Chemical Composition)

  • Compressive Strength (ASTM C-170)

  • Modulus of Rupture (ASTM C-99)

  • Porosity (BR 141)

  • Saturation Co-efficient (BR 141)

  • Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity
    (ASTM C-97)

  • Apparent Density
    (BR 141)

  • Acid Immersion (BR 141)

  • Resistance to Salt Crystalization (BS EN 12370 / ASTM C-88)

  • Unidirectional Freeze-thaw Testing (BS EN 772-22 and prEN 459-Part 22)

Stone Purchase(2025):
A subsequent contract to ArconTEST was then awarded by the LAO Precinct Properties Branch to assist in the purchase a quantity of large sized sawn blocks from the two quarries for delivery to a warehouse in Toronto. ArconTEST prepared shop drawings for the large six-sided sawn blocks which were coordinated with the smaller unit sizes required for future work.

Block Verification (2025):
As part of the project ArconTEST carried out quarry and cutting shop verification visits to inspect and accept the rough blocks on behalf of the PPB prior to shipment.



Grange Quarry (St Bees Red Sandstone)
(ATI 2024) Review of quarry operations


Buckholt Quarry (Callow hill Red Sandstone)
(ATI 2025) Review of quarry operations


Quarry extraction equipment at the Grange Quarry, nr Egremont UK
(ATI 2025)