Tuesday 15 May 2012

Iona Stones

Various coloured stones and pebbbles can be picked up on Iona's beaches. On the way back from St Columba's bay passed a cottage that had a display of tumbled stones for sale at the gate. I bought four of them also the heart-shaped stone at the top. The two unpolished stones directly beneath the heart, I picked up on the beach.
Pebbles on the shore at St Columba's Bay.
Iona has marble quarries which were worked at various times from early days, the last period of activity finishing shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. Only some of the old quarry machinery  now remains. Didn't have time to visit the quarries this time. These pictures were taken on a previous visit to Iona some years ago.
Iona Marble is predominantly white with greenish veining and mottling. The communion table in the Abbey Church is made from a large block of Iona marble.

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