Whinstone

Whinstone is a term used in the quarrying industry to describe any hard dark-coloured rock. Examples include the igneous rocks, basalt and dolerite, as well as the sedimentary rock, chert.^[1][2]

Description

Massive outcrops of whinstone occur include the Pentland Hills, Scotland and the Whin Sills, England.^[3]

The name 'whin' derives from the sound it makes when struck with a hammer^[4]. It is used for road chippings and dry stone walls, but its natural angular shapes do not fit together well and are not easy to build with, and its hardness makes it a difficult material to work^[5]. A common use is in the laying of patios and driveways in its ground/by product state called Whindust.^[6]

References