{{short description|Fossiliferous limestone from County Durham, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use British English|date=October 2023}} Fossiled corals in polished Frosterley Marble|thumb
'''Frosterley Marble''' is a black, bituminous coraliferous limestone of the Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian ), some 325 million years ago.<ref name="ncl-co-curate">{{cite web |url=https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/resources/view/44975/ |title=Frosterley Marble (Great Limestone, Mississippian; Rogerley Quarry, England) |publisher=University of Newcastle |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref><ref name="lawrence">{{cite report |url=https://www.durham.gov.uk/media/3683/County-Durham-Geodiversity-Audit/pdf/CountyDurhamGeodiversityAudit.pdf |title=Durham Geodiversity Audit |last1=Lawrence |first1=D.J.D. |last2=Vye |first2=C.L. |last3=Young |first3=B.|publisher=Durham County Council |year=2004 |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref>{{rp|40}} It outcrops in Weardale, County Durham, England, including near the village of Frosterley whence it is named.
==Geology== Unlike a true marble, it is not a metamorphic rock, but is so-called because it can take a fine polish. Concentrations of such corals as ''Dibunophyllum bipartitum'' and of brachiopod remains contribute to its attractiveness when sections are polished.<ref>Stone et al 2010 ''British Regional Geology: Northern England'' (5th edition) (Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey) pp238-254</ref><ref name="lawrence" />{{rp|40}}
==Use== It is cut and polished for use as ornate stone, and was much desired for church decoration, particularly during the Middle Ages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://weardalemuseum.org.uk/news-frosterley-marble-to-come-to-museum |title=Frosterley Marble Font to Come to the Museum |publisher=Weardale Museum |date=15 April 2020 |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> The decorative columns found in Durham Cathedral date from about 1350. It has been used as far afield as India, as the base of the pulpit in St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai.<ref name="npvm">{{cite web |url=https://npvm.archaeologicalpractice.co.uk/objects/15/index.htm |title=Frosterley Marble |publisher=North Pennines AONB Partnership |year=2015 |access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://altogetherarchaeology.org/ReportsRD-Part1Counter.php |title=North Pennines Archaeological Research Framework: Part 1. Resource Assessment |publisher=Altogether Archaeology |year=2021 |access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref>
==See also== *Geology of County Durham *{{annotated link|List of decorative stones}} *{{annotated link|List of types of marble}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Frosterley Marble}} * [https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/stones_ahrb_2005/cfm/Public/details/RockDetails.cfm?RockCode=FROSTE Stone in Archaeology database]
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Category:Geology Category:Limestone Category:Geology of County Durham Category:Carboniferous geology Category:Sculpture materials Category:Stone (material)