The History of Natural Stone in Saint-Petersburg

The book introduces readers to the heritage of St. Petersburg, sharing the geological history of a unique city, a world heritage site, and part of the UNESCO list. It also explains the role of small towns and fortresses near St. Petersburg, whose stone decoration played an essential role in the city’s evolution and was key in the history of neighboring cultures. The book also describes the main architectural symbols of St. Petersburg, such as the Alexander Column, the Bronze Horseman, the Peter and Paul Fortress and more. In addition to five guided tours of the city center, it offers descriptions of historic quarries, some of which are now open-air museums. Preface Contents Walking Around the Stone City 1 Stone in the Architecture of St. Petersburg The History of St. Petersburg Stones 2 St. Petersburg Decorative Stones 1 Igneous Rocks 2 Metamorphic Rocks 3 Sedimentary Rocks Reference 3 The Bronze Horseman and Thunder Stone: History and Nowadays 1 History of the Equestrian Statue (The Bronze Horseman) 2 Thunder Stone 3 Modern Studies References 4 The Alexander Column—From Finnish Friedrichsham to Palace Square in St. Petersburg 1 Mining and Pre-treatment of Granite Monolith 2 Transportation of the Row Piece to St. Petersburg 3 Brief Info References 5 The Alexander Column: Life After Installation 1 Jointing at the Rapakivi Granite Massif (The Provenance Site of the Alexander Column) 2 Features of the Behavior of Cracks of Prototectonic Jointing 3 What Are the Cracks in the Alexander Column? References 6 Rapakivi Granite—Symbol of St. Petersburg References 7 Valaam Monastery Granite 8 Atlantes Hold Sky on Stone Shoulders References 9 Old Stories of Ruskeala References 10 Putilovo Limestone—First in St Petersburg 11 Such Different Sandstones References 12 Soapstone (Talc-Chlorite Schist) References 13 Natural Stone in Modern St. Petersburg References Where and How Did Stone Mine Near St. Petersburg 14 Where and How Did Stone Mine Near St. Petersburg Abstract References 15 Master of Columns Abstract References 16 Granite Industry (End Nineteenth–Early Twentieth Centuries) References Digital Resources of the National Library of Finland Granite Weathering Under Urban Condition 17 Granite Weathering Under Urban Condition Abstract 1 Abiotic (Physical and Chemical Weathering) 2 Biotic Weathering 3 Anthropogenic Destruction References