Sapphires are a longstanding staple Most of the sapphire in Australia is blue, or very dark with a greenish color. This kind of sapphire is only found in Australia.
In Australia, bluestone is a type of basalt and is characterised by its blue-grey colour tones. One of the key characteristics of bluestone is the naturally occurring cat's paws. These markings are formed from gas extrusions during the stone formation millions of years ago.
“Bluestone” is a term that refers to sedimentary rocks, like sandstone or limestone that appear blue-grey in colour. Bluestone in Australia is a basalt or olivine basal.
What is commonly referred to as 'bluestone' is actually olivine basalt, and was formed by a massive Pleistocene lava flow which covered most of what is now south-western Victoria. The basalt plains of Victoria are the third-largest in the world, extending from the west of Melbourne to the South Australian border.
Sapphire. By far the most popular blue gem for faceting, a blue sapphire can have very high saturation.
Blue Howlite is sometimes called Turquenite because of its resemblance to Turquoise.
Blue spinel is the rarest blue gemstone in the world. Blue spinel mostly comes from Sri Lanka and is formed with a unique mixture of iron and cobalt. While blue spinel is quite rare, other forms of spinel are far more common.
Bluestone is a commercial name for building stone, which is often basalt, a volcanic rock. It is very hard, durable, non slip and looks great.
A natural stone like bluestone tends to cost more than other pavers because of the cost of quarrying, as well as availability. Because bluestone is highly desirable and only comes from a few regions, it is often priced at a premium.
Preseli Bluestone, also known as Preseli Stone or Preseli Spotted Dolerite, is a very unique and rare igneous rock that crystallizes in the form of masses. This crystal is made up of multiple minerals that include Dolerite, Feldspar (Plagioclase), Diopside, Biotite, Quartz just to name a few.
Bluestone can be used in almost every outdoor paving idea or design, from cut pavers used in patios, walkways, and stairs to architectural stone deployed in buildings. It is also popular in wall stone, decorated boulders, steps, and other landscaping options.
You can find kerbs, fences and retaining walls all built from this material. Bluestone originates from the ancient basalt lava flows characteristic of the Western Districts of Victoria through to Melbourne's northern suburbs.
Bluestone is a strong and durable stone that is cost-effective and easy to install. As all-natural stone is porous, it may be vulnerable to staining. By using a penetrating sealer, cleaning any spills or stains is made easier. Bluestone has a high density and a natural ability to withstand harsh weather conditions.
Australia's national gemstone is the opal, a stone famous across the world for its brilliant colours.
PA bluestone is offered in a variety of different textures and finishes. The four most common finishes are Flamed, Natural Cleft, Honed, and Flamed and Brushed. With a Flamed finish (also called a thermal finish), a textured surface is revealed by exposing the stone's surface to intense heat.
Bluestone, in fact, represents in excess of 20 separate rock varieties. In the U.S. it is usually a kind of sandstone. It is deep blue in colour, but in other areas of the U.S ,it is a variety of limestone that was formed in deep water and had less subjection to light.
Bluestone Tends to Flake
If water infiltrates the stone - again, if the stone is left unsealed - the unsealed stone may flake as part of a natural weathering and erosion process. For this reason as well as its dark color, bluestone is not the best choice for pool decks or other wet areas such as hot tubs.
Bluestone is light to dark greyish-blue in color, depending on the depth at which it is quarried. The deeper it is quarried, the more rich the color. It is also quite dense, which makes it durable and resistant to cracking.
Granite and Bluestone are both equally good, however, they do have slight differences. Here's a quick summary of the two: Granite is (generally) harder wearing, however, both stones are renowned for their durability and strength.
Bluestone is a cultural or commercial name for a number of dimension or building stone varieties, including: basalt in Victoria, Australia, and in New Zealand. dolerites in Tasmania, Australia; and in Britain (including Stonehenge) feldspathic sandstone in the US and Canada.
It is recommended to always seal a bluestone patio after scrubbing it clean. Sealing is a normal process after patio installation. Sealing protects the patio from mineral stains and extends its lifespan. The patio should be sealed at least every couple of years to keep its protective coating.
Another great feature of using bluestone is that it is great for areas that get wet or are normally slippery when other materials are used.
Sapphire is the world's most popular blue gemstone, beloved for its deep blue color and resistance to damage.
Benitoite. This rare stone exceeds diamond's rarity as well as its "fire" or dispersion. Combined with its often sapphire-blue color, it's no wonder this is a highly sought rare gem. Gem-quality benitoite occurs only in San Benito County, California (and thus a natural choice for the California state gem).