building birmingham: a tour in three parts of the building stones...

UrbanGeologyinBirminghamNo.3

©Siddall,Schroder,Hamilton2017

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BuildingBirmingham:Atourinthreepartsofthebuildingstonesusedinthecitycentre.Part3.Aroundtheshopsfromthe‘BackofRackham’s’totheBullring RuthSiddall,JulieSchroderandLauraHamiltonThename‘Birmingham’isderivedfromtheAnglo-SaxonBeormingahām,alludingtothehomeoftheBeormingasclanandtheirsettlementherewasprobablyestablishedasearlyasthe7thCenturyA.D.Howeverthecentreremainedapoorregionuntilthelater12thCenturywhenPeterdeBermingham,locallordofthemanor,developedamarketcentrearoundhiscastle,intheareathatisnowtheBullRing.FromthenBirmingham’seconomybegantotakeoffanditbecameestablishedasasmallmarkettown.TheBullRinghasalsobeenshowntobeanareaoflightindustryatthistime.Archaeologicalexcavationscarriedoutduringthelatestphaseofconstructionintheearly2000shaverevealedevidenceofpotters’workshopsandleatherworksduringthe13thCentury. ThisbuildingstonewalkfocusesontheoldcentreofBirmingham,aroundthechurchofStMartinintheBullRingandthesurroundingshoppingmalls.TheareademonstratescontinuityasacentrefortradeandretailbutthebuildingmaterialsusedherehavechangedbeyondthosethatwouldhavebeenfamiliartoPeterdeBerminghamandhisfamily.Theareahasbeentransformedoverthelasttwodecades,andthoughtheoldestpartofthecityofBirmingham,itisnowthesymbolofanewvibrantcentre,withthecoveredmarketsreplacedbyglamorousshoppingmalls.Mallsaremoderncathedralsintermsofdeliveringthedoublewhammyofdecorativestonesandpublicaccess.Theyarebuilttoimpressandthepolishedsurfacesprovideexcellentopportunitiesforobservingfossils,mineralsandtextures.ThiswalkwilltakeinthenewshoppingprecinctsoftheBullringandGrandCentralaswellasthesurroundingretailareas.ItwillendbytakingadetourtoHollowayCircustovisitthePagoda.

Themainsourceonthearchitectureofthebuildingsvisited,unlessotherwisecited,isPevsner’sArchitecturalGuidetoBirmingham(Foster,2007).InformationonpublicartworksislargelyderivedfromNoszlopy&Waterhouse(2007).Thisisthethirdandfinalpartinseriesofguidestothebuildingstonesof



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BirminghamCityCentre(seeSiddalletal.,2016a&b),producedfortheBlackCountryGeologicalSociety.ThewalkextendstheworkofShilston(1994),Robinson(1999)andSchroderetal.(2015).ThiswalkstartsonTempleRow,andcanbecombinedwiththefirstwalkinthisserieswhichendsattheCathedralyard(Siddalletal.,2016a).Thefirststopisasmallbutwellworthwhilediversionfromthemainroute.WalkdownTempleStreettothebranchofthestationersRymansatnumber20.

Rymans,20TempleStreetThepurposeofthisdiversiondownTempleStreetistovisitwhatappearsatfirstglancetobetheunassumingshopfrontofthestationers’Rymans.ThisisoneofBirmingham’stopfossilsspots(left).ItiscladwithalimestonecalledDerbydene.Thisisan‘encrinite,’nowaratherold-fashionedword,referringtoalimestonepredominantlycomposedofthefragmentsofcrinoids.Morecorrectlyitwouldbecalledabiosparitetoday.However,herethecrinoidsaresospectacularthatitseemsfittingthatweapplyarocknamewhichdrawsattentiontothis.Thecrinoidsherearebigandcannotbemissed,withossiclesacentimetreorsoindiameterandarticulatedstem-sectionsuptotenormorecentimetresinlength.ItisquarriedfrombedsintheLowerCarboniferousEyamandMonsalDaleLimestoneFormations

aroundthequarrydistrictofCromfordinDerbyshire. NowretraceyourstepsbackupTempleStreettowardstheCathedralandturnrightintoTempleRowtotheAlliedIrishBankat61TempleRow.AlliedIrishBankThebuildingonthecornerofTempleRowandNeedlessAlleyisproperlycalledUnionChambers.Itwasdesignedinthe1930sbyarchitectsEwanHarper,Bro.&Co.ThegroundfloorhasbeenremodelledtoaccommodatetheAlliedIrishBank.Lookingup,thebuildingiscladinPortlandStone,butofmaingeologicalinterestherearethedecorativegranitesusedtocladthelowerfloor.Severalgranites,probablyaddedatdifferenttimes,areusedtocladthisbuilding,whichiswhythisfaçadelooksabitpatchy.



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Thebank’slogoisfixedontoablue,igneousrock.Althoughaboveeye-level,evenfromadistance,thisisrecognisableasoneoftheworld’smostpopulardecorativestonesandalsoNorway’snationalstone.Ithasbeenquarriedonacommercialscalesincethe1880sandhasbecomeverypopular.ThisisBluePearlLarvikite,oneofseveralvarietiesofthisstonequarriedfromtheLarvikPlutonicComplex,locatedintheOsloRiftintheVestfoldofsouthernNorway,some80kmsouthofOslo.TheLarvikintrusionsformaringcomplex,intrudedduringtheformationoftheOsloGrabeninthePermianbetween292-297Ma.The‘BluePearl’variety,so-calledbecauseofitsstrongbluecolouration,predominantlyanopticaleffectbroughtaboutbythe‘schillerescence’ofthefeldspars,belongstotheTvedalanSub-Typeoftheintrusionandisquarriedin14locationsaroundthevillagesofTvedalenandAuen.Larvikites,likemanyrift-associatedigneousrocks,haveunusualmineralogy.Theschillerescentfeldsparisanoligoclaseperthite.Therockisoftenreferredtoasasyenite,howeverduetothisplagioclasecomponent,itismoreproperlyamonzonitebycomposition.Thefeldspathoidmineralnephelineisalsopresent.Themaficphasesaretheblackmicavarietylepidolite,thepyroxenetitanaugiteandtitanomagnetite. Wenowturntothegraniteswhichareusedtocladtheverticalsaroundthedoorandbetweenthewindows.Unfortunatelyoneofthemainstonesusedisagraniteofunknownorigin,withblotchy,whiteplagioclasephenocrystsinamatrixofpalebrownpotassicfeldspar,grey,translucentquartzandclotsofblackbiotitemica.Alsousedareaverypalecolouredleucograniteandabrowngranitewithstronglyalignedphenocrysts.TheleucograniteisavarietyofSardinianGranite,withphenocrystsofslightlyyellowishfeldspars.Thiscoloureffectispartlyduetoincipientalterationofthesemineralstoformclays.Someofthesecrystalsalsoshowzoning.Greyquartzandblackbiotitearealsopresent.ThisstoneisquarriedfromtheBuddosòPluton,locatedinthenortheastoftheislandofSardinia.ItwasintrudedduringtheVariscanOrogeny300millionyearsago. Thedarker-coloured,foliatedgraniteisavarietyofCornishGranite.Thistextureisgenerallyreferredtoasthe‘small-megacrystictype’duetothebrick-shapedfeldsparphenocrysts,andgraniteswiththistextureweremainlyacquiredfromtheCarnmenellisandBodminPlutons.At300Ma,theCornishGranitesarethesameageastheSardinianGraniteabove,andrelatedtothesamemountain-buildingevent,theVariscanOrogeny.Bothsuitesofgraniteswereintrudedlateintothisorogenicphase.UnliketheSardinianGraniteswhichcontainonlybiotitemica,theCornishgranitesaretwo-micagranitesandsilverymuscoviteisadistinctivecomponentofthestoneusedhere.Biotiteispresentinblackflakes,showingaweakalignment.Plagioclaseandgreyquartzarealsopresentinthegroundmass.

Above,lefttoright,browngranite,SardinianGraniteandCornishgranite.Allimagesareatthesamescale,fieldofview=15cm.Nextdoor,justacrossNeedlessAlleyaretheofficesoftheCBRE.CBREBuilding,55TempleRowThisbuilding,betweenNeedlessAlleyandCherryStreetformerlyhousedtheBankofEngland,andwasdesignedbyFitzroyRobinson&Partners(1972).ItisnowoccupiedbyCBRE,afirmofCalifornia-based



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propertydevelopers.Twostonesareusedhere;anunusualvarietyofPortlandStoneandabrowngranite.ThePortlandstoneisbestseenfrom‘exposures’ateye-levelontheNeedlessAlleyfaçade.Thisstoneispackedwithfossilfragments.ItisFancyBeachWhitbed,avarietyofPortlandStonewhichismuchricherinfossilsthannormalWhitbed.ItcanbedistinguishedfromtheRoachfaciesinthatthelatterisdominatedbycavitieswherefossilshavebeencompletelyleachedout.FancyBeachWhitbedispackedwithfossilsbutnotalloftheseareleachedout.ThefaciesisparticularlyrichintheoysterLiostreasp.andalsodebrisofthealgaeSolenoporaportlandica.ThemainshellvarietythatareleachedmouldsandcastsarefromthebivalveTrigonia.ThisfaciesnamedandworkedbyAlbionStoneismainlyquarriedinJordan’sandInmosthayQuarriesontheIsleofPortland.LikeallvarietiesofPortlandStone,thisisanooliticcalcareniteoflateJurassicage. BlaubrunGraniteisusedtocladtheentrancefaçadeatthetopofthesteps.‘Blaubrun’literallytranslatesfromtheGermanas‘blue-brown’,referringtothebrownpotassicfeldsparsandbluish,strainedquartz.Thisbluecolourisanopticaleffect.Blaubrunisacoarse-grained,ancientgranitefromSweden,oneofthe1.8GaFlivik-HökhultSuite,withthemainquarrieslocatedintheÅngeholmPluton.ThissuiteofintrusiveigneousrocksispartoftheTranscandinavianIgneousBeltandemplacedintheSmålandregionofsoutheastSweden.Theyareexposedalongthecoastandthequarriesareonlyaccessiblebyboat.Therockalsocontainsbiotiteandplagioclase.CrossCherryStreetto43TempleRow.43TempleRow

Originallybuiltin1980fortheTrusteeSavingsBankbyJamesA.RobertsAssociates,thisbuildingisnowoccupiedbyLloydsBank.Themostfamousrapakivigranite,BalticBrown,isusedtocladthisbuildingandthiscontinuesalongthefaçadeonCherryStreet,providingexcellentsurfacesateye-leveltoexaminethetexturesandmineralogyofthisrock.‘Rapakivi’isaFinnishwordmeaning‘rottenrock’;anamecoinedduetotherubbly,surfaceweatheringencounteredintheWiborgBatholithfromwhencethisrockisquarriedontheFinnish-Russianborder.Howeverthephrase‘rapakivigranites’appliestoarangeofanorogenicgranitesintrudedbetween1.6and1.5billionyearsagoinazoneextendedfromtheBalticShieldtotheSouthernUSA.Thevarietyweseehereisthemostwellknownandbelongstoagroupofrapakivigranitescalledwiborgites.Thesehavetheclassic‘ovoid’texturesofrounded,pink-brownpotassicfeldspars,



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rimmedbygreenplagioclase.Modernunderstandingofmegacrystsingraniticmeltsismovingawayfromtheinterpretationthattheseareprimarymeltfeaturesanditisgenerallyunderstoodthattheserepresentsub-soliduscrystalgrowth. TivoliTravertineisusedundertheporticoaroundtheentrance,tocladtheuprightsbetweentheplateglassdoors.ThisstonecomesfromtheenormousquarrycomplexesatBagnideTivolinearRomeinItaly.ThequarriesworkthedepositsoftheformervolcanicLakeTiburtinus,andtheRomans,whousedthisstonefortheconstructionoftheColosseumandmanyotherbuildings,calleditLapisTiburtinus.Itisanivory-coloured,beautifullybandedtravertine,thecalciumcarbonateprecipitatedfromwarm,geothermalwatersandmodifiedbyalgalmats.Thebiologicalsideofthispartnershipislargelyresponsibleforthedelicatestructuresobservedwhenthisstoneisexaminedclosely.TheTiburtinusTravertinedepositsarePleistoceneinage,theyoungestonly30thousandyearsold. FollowCherryStreettoCorporationStreetandturnleftinfrontofHouseofFraser(formerlyRackham’s)departmentstore.DolookatthebeautifulslabsofBalticBrownenroute!HouseofFraserDepartmentStoreAlongCherryStreet,theblockthatis43TempleRowsteadilymergesintotheHouseofFraserDepartmentstore,facingontoCorporationStreet.Theshopislargelycladwithafine-tomedium-grainedgreygraniteofunknownorigin.Itiscomposedofwhite,milkyquartzandfeldsparwithabundantblackbiotiteandminormuscovite.Thefeldsparsareslightlyalteredandsometimesappeartobebrown.AroundtheshopwindowsarestripsofredBalmoralGranite,whichlikeBalticBrowndescribedabove,isanotherpopularFinnishStone,andagainispartofthesuiteofrapakivigranites.Thesevarieties,lackingthedistinctiveovoids,areknowaspyterlites.BalmoralisquarriedfromtheVehmaaBatholith,nearTurkuonthecoastofSWFinland.Mineralogicallyitiscomposedofbrick-redpotassicfeldspars,verydark,smokyquartz,plagioclase,biotiteandhornblende.Ithasbeenmarketedas‘Balmoral’since1903,atimewhenScottish-stylebaronialarchitecturewasverypopularinScandinaviaandFinlandandalsobecausethestonewasmarketedtotheBritishIslethroughtheportofAberdeen. TurnleftalongCorporationStreetandwalktoTheSquarePegpubonthecornerofBullStreet.TheSquarePegWetherspoonsPublicHouseThegroundfloorfaçadeofthisenormouspubiscladwithaspectacularpinkgranite.WecontinuetheFinnishthemeasthisisanotherrapakivigranitefromPorkkalaonthesoutherncoastofFinlandandisthereforecalledPorkkalaGranite.Itisawiborgitevarietywithovoidsofrose-pinkpotassicfeldsparrimmedwithwhiteplagioclase.ThesearenotaswelldefinedasinBalticBrownandthisispartlybecausethisstonehasalsobeendeformed,havingbeenemplacedalongafaultzone.Translucent,pale-greyquartzandbiotitearealsopresent.APortuguesegranite,RossoPorriñohasbeenusedtopatchthisstoneontheBullStreetfaçade;thisisfiner-grained,equigranulargranite,alsorosepink,composedofpinkpotassicfeldspar,plagioclase,greysmokyquartzandbiotite.LiketheCornishandSardiniangranites,ittoowasemplacedduringtheend-CarboniferousVariscanOrogeny. ContinuealongBullStreetandentertheMinories.Onceopen,thisshoppingcentrewasglazedoverandremodelledbyPeterHing&JonesArchitectsin1993.TheMinoriesSyntheticstone,includingterrazzoflooring,aremainlyusedintheinterior,butonceagainweseethewiborgitePorkkalaGraniteusedtogreateffect,thistimehighlypolishedtocladthewalls.Thissurfacemakesexaminationoftexturesmucheasier.Theotherstoneusedhereisastronglybanded,migmatitic,blackandredgneissusedascircularfeaturesatthebasesofthelamps.UnfortunatelythepreciseoriginofthisstoneisunknownbutitisveryprobablyfromBrazil.Suchstripygneissesareoftenmarketedunderthe



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genericname‘Juparana’namedafteralakeinEspiritoSantoState,Brazilclosetosomeoftheearliestquarriesforthistypeofstone.

PorkkalaGraniteatTheSquarePeg.Fieldofview=15cm.WalkstraightthroughTheMinoriesandleaveviatheexitontoThePrioryQueensway.Afterafewtensofmetres,turnleftontoColmoreCircusQueenswayandtheimposing,post-modern,officeblockbuildingofTheWesleyan.TheWesleyanandGeneralAssuranceBuildingThisimmenseofficetowerisalsodesignedbyPeterHing&Jonesandwascompletedin1991.Foster(2007)describesitasa‘poorquality’attemptatpost-modernism,andIaminclinedtoagreewithhim.Howevermyagreementisshortlived,asFostergoesontosaythatthebuildingiscladwithsyntheticstone.Itmostcertainlyisnot!Thisbuilding,verymuchofitstime,exploitedthethen,newtothemarket,spectaculargranitoidsandgneissesofBrazil.Shilston(1994)identifiesthisstoneasRosaTramonto,andindeedthereisapolishedsampleof‘RosaTramonto’intheDudleyMuseum(Cat.017606)whichiscertainlyverysimilaranditwouldbeeasytodrawconclusionshere.However‘RosaTramonto’isnotastandardstonename;itmaywellhavebeena‘local’namegivenbythestonecontractors.Ihavenotbeenabletofurtherprovenancethisvarietyof‘Juparana’gneiss.Nevertheless,itisabeautifulstone,acoarse-grainedgraniticgneiss-migmatite,composedofpotassicfeldsparandbiotite. Continueon,crossingBullStreettotheeastendofColmoreRow.ColmoreGateto8ColmoreRowOnthecornerofBullStreetandColmoreRowstandsafourteen-storeytowerwithofficeandretailspacedesignedbySeymourHarrisPartnershipandbuiltbetween1990-92.ItisalmostentirelycladinNorwegianBluePearlLarvikiteasdescribedaboveattheAlliedIrishBank.Theshimmeringschillerescenceoftheoligoclaseperthitefeldsparsareclearlyobservedonthesepolishedsurfaces. TurnleftintotheGreatWesternArcadeandcontinuewalkingthroughthearcadetotheentranceonTempleRow.



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GreatWesternArcadeTheArcadeisoneofthelastsurvivingexamplesofBirmingham’sVictorianshoppingarcades.Itwasconstructedin1876,designedbyarchitectW.H.WardandbuiltoverthetracksoftherailwaylinescomingoutofSnowHillstation.Itunderwentrefurbishmentandrestorationinthe1980sbyDouglasHickmanoftheJohnMadinDesignGroup.ThefaçadetotheentranceonTempleRow,isinaRenaissancestyle,withcarvedpilasters,capitals,andfigurespersonifyingArtandIndustryabovethearch.AllofthisiscarvedinBathStonefreestone.OneoftheUK’smostfamousbuildingstones,BathStoneisquarriedaroundtheeponymouscityfromtheOxfordianChalfieldOoliteFormation,partoftheJurassicGreatOoliteGroup.Asthenamesuggests,itisanooliticlimestone,butitalsocontainsvariableamountsofshelldebris.BathStonecanbedistinguishedfromPortlandStoneinthatitisapalegolden-yellowcolour.

FromTheGreatWesternArcade,crossTempleRowandcontinuethroughtheNorthWesternArcadebackontoCorporationStreet.Ifthisarcadeisclosed(i.e.onaSunday),thenwalkbacktoCherryStreetandtake

thatroutebackontoCorporationStreet.TurnrightonCorporationStreetandthenleftontoUnionStreet.OurrouteisnowtotakeustotheshoppingmallsattheheartofBirmingham’s21stCenturyshoppingdistrict. WHSmithUnionStreetWhilstwalkingdownUnionStreet,it’sworthstoppingoutsideWHSmithtolookattheCarraraMarblecladdingontheexterior.AwidevarietyofmarblesarequarriedfromthisnappestackofMesozoiclimestonesexposedintheMassaandCarrararegionsofcoastalTuscanyinItaly.ThevarietyseenhereisavarietyknownasArabescatoMarble(left),essentiallyitisatectonicbreccia,formed



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alongathrustplane,thatwassubsequentlydeformedandmetamorphosedduringtheemplacementofthecarbonateTuscanNappesintheOligoceneandMiocene.Thisisacalcitemarble,metamorphosedatgreenschistfacies.Thegreymatrixisrichinveryfinegrainedironpyrite. ContinuingontoHighStreet,oppositeusisThePavilionsShoppingCentre,whichiscurrentlyscheduledforclosureandredevelopment.Whetherthegranitefaçadewillbepreservedisnotknown.ThePavilions,HighStreet ThisdevelopmentdominatesthesouthsideofHighStreetandwasbuiltin1986byChapmanTaylorPartnersanditsgranite-cladfaçadeepitomisesthestyleofpost-modernarchitecture.Itiscladwithadarkandpalepinkgranite.Unfortunatelymostofthisisaboveeye-level,howeverthedarkpinkgranitecanbeseenintheengagedpillarsbetweenshopfronts.FinnishBalmoralGraniteisusedagainhere.WehavepreviouslyseenthisstoneinthewindowsurroundsatTheHouseofFraserdepartmentstore.ThepalepinkgraniteusedisprobablyRossoPorriño(asseenatTheSquarePeg). TurnrightonHighStreettowardstheentrancetotheBullring.NextdoortoWaterstonesbookshopistheNationwideBank(BuildingSociety). NationwideBank

Thefaçadeofthisbankiscladinpanelsofagreenishgreygneiss,unfortunatelyofunknownorigin.Itisclearlyabanded,metamorphicrockatgreenschistfacies.Mineralogicallythegreencolourisalmostcertainlyimpartedbychlorite,andtiny,needle-likecrystalsofactinolitearevisible.Muscoviteisalsopresent,buttheoverallsurfacesheenofthisrocksuggeststhatitisalsorichincarbonateminerals.Makingthismostprobablyacalc-silicategneiss,derivedfromthecomplexmetamorphismofasequenceofclasticandcarbonatesediments.



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RotundaThe24-storeyhighRotundaisprobablyoneofthemosticonicbuildingsoftheBullringandBirminghamandbecamelistedin2000.Completedin1965byarchitectJamesRoberts,itistheonlysurvivorofthe1960sBullRingCentre.Thegroundfloorisclad,mosaic-like,withbrickshapedblocksofwhiteCarraraMarble.Thesehaveanaturallybrokensurfacewhichdoescatchthelightwellandmakesforaninterestingtexture.Thisvarietyiswhitewithfaint,greystreaks,itisknownasCarrara‘Sicilian’Marble(thelinkswithSicilyareunknownandprobablytenuous).SimilarlytotheArabescatovarietydescribedatWHSmithonUnionStreet(above),thismarbleisderivedfromtheApulianTectonicWindow. WewillnotyetenterthecoveredBullringMall,butwecanpattheheadofthebronzebull(seepage1)attheentrancebeforeheadingdownthewalkwaytowardsStMartin’sSquare.StreetFurnitureSeatingintheformofstonecubesarefoundscatteredalongthewalkwaydownthroughthecentreoftheBullringtowardsthechurchofStMartin’s.Thesearemadeofanattractive,purplish-colouredmetamorphicrock.VizagBlueisagarnet-bearingmigmatiticgneissfromtheEasternGhatsMobileBeltofnortheastIndia.ItisquarriedinseverallocalitiesaroundthetownsofSrikakulam,TekkaliandPatapatnaminthestateofAndraPradeshanditisnamedafterthelocalciviccentre,Visakhapatnam,whichisoftenshortenedto‘Vizag’.

Themigmatitesarepartofasuiteofveryhighgrademetamorphicrocksofcharnockiticcomposition,containingthemineralsgarnet,plagioclaseandpotassicfeldspars,biotite,orthopyroxeneandopalescentquartz.TheEasternGhatsMobileBeltrepresentsaseriesofdeepcrustalrocksaccretedduringmultipleorogeniceventsduringthePalaeoproterozoic,between1.5and2billionyearsago.Theattractivecolourofthisstoneanditsabilitytotakeahighpolishhasmadeitverypopularasadecorativestonenotonlyinshoppingmalls,butithasalsobecomeastockmaterialformonumentalmasons.StMartinintheBullRingAchurchexistedhereatthetimeofPeterdeBerminghaminthe12thCenturyalthoughitwasfirstrecordedin1263.AhistoryofthisMedievalchurch’sevolutionintotheVictorianbuildingstandingtodayisrecordedbyFoster(2007).Thebulkofthemodernchurchwascompletedin1875underthesupervisionofarchitectJ.A.Chatwin.PostWorldWarIIrestorationsandadditionswerecarriedoutbetween1950and1960byPhilipandAnthonyChatwin.ThechurchisbuiltinGrinshillStone,althoughFoster(2007)notesthatthespire,largelyuntouchedbyChatwinandencasedbyP.C.Hardwickin1855wasbuiltofanundifferentiated‘grey-brownsandstone’.GrinshillStoneisoneoftheLowerTriassicsandstonesoftheEnglishMidlands.Typically,thesestonesarered,withquartzgrainswell-coatedwithhaematite.However,unusually,Grinshillisabuff-colouredsandstone,derivedfromtheHelsbySandstoneFormationoftheSherwoodSandstoneGroup.Itisacross-beddedarkosicsandstone,composedpredominantlyofquartzandfeldsparandfreeof



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iron.ItisquarriedfromGrinshillnearWeminShropshire.AlthoughusedlocallysinceatleasttheMedievalperiod,itwasworkedonanindustrialscalefromthe19thCentury,withover30quarriesinoperation. SlabsofHautevilleLimestoneareusedaspavinginfrontofthechurchporch.Thishasadistinctiveyellowtopinkcolourvariation,enhancedbyabundantbioturbation.HautevilleisaLowerCretaceouslimestonequarriedfromtheeponymousFrenchvillage.Asthenamesuggests,thequarriesarelocatedhighintheFrenchJuraanditisquarriedseasonally;thequarriesareburiedinsnowinthewintermonths.HautevilleStoneisvariablyfossiliferous,andafewexamplesareseenhere.Thesurfacesoftheseslabsareratherbattered,butlookforthelarge(10cm)longsectionthroughahelicallycoiledammonoid,Turrilitescostatus,rightontheveryedgeofaslab,upagainstthepavingstonesofStMartin’sSquare.TheblackstoneimmediatelyadjacenttotheHautevilleisthepyroxene-phyric,CretaceousbasaltfromChina,marketedasBlackPearl(below).

HautevilleLimestoneandBlackPearlBasaltpaving,StMartin’sSquare.ReturnnowtothenewBullringmallwhichcanbeaccessedviaSelfridgesortheentrancesonthewalkway.BullringThisareaofBirminghamhasbeenamarketplacesincePeterdeBerminghamboughtalicencetotradeinthe12thCentury.ManyofuswhoknewBirminghaminthelaterhalfofthe20thCenturywillremembertheBullRingCentrewell,afunctionalifnotbeautifularchitecturalconglomeration.Planswereinplacebythelate1990storedevelopthisareaanddemolitionandbuildingworksbeganin2000withthemallopeningthreeyearslater,reincarnatedastheone-wordBullring.ThemallisdesignedbyretailspecialistarchitectsBenoyGroup.Foster(2007)remarksthatthenewcomplexis‘retailarchitectureatanuncomfortablemomentoftransition’.Nevertheless,shoppingmallsarealwaysgoodplacestoseedecorativepolishedstone,andthismakestheBullringwellworthavisit.ThestonecontractwascarriedoutbyengineersChapmanTayloralongwithStoneCladdingInternational,afirmwell-knownforsupplyingparticularlydecorative,arguably‘glitzy’stones,manyfromexoticlocalities.TheMallisarrangedonthreelevelswhicharecontinuousontheLowerLevelbutsplitintotwo‘wings’ontheMiddleandUpperLevelsbythe



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walkwayleadingdowntothechurchofStMartin’s.Pavingstones,whichvaryindesignandstoneusedfromleveltolevel,arethemainuseofdecorativestonesintheBullring. Themainpavingstoneusedthroughoutthecomplexisayellow-colouredSpanish,mid-Cretaceouslimestone.ThisisgenerallymarketedasYanaLimestonewhichisacorruptionofoneoftheplacesoforigin,LaJananearTarragonainsouthernSpain.ItisworkedonalargescalefromtheAptianBenassalFormation.Texturallythisunitisvariableinbothcolourandfossilcontent.Colourrangesfromyellowthroughcreamandevenpalepinkandthestoneissometimesmottledwiththesecolours.Itisvariablyfossiliferous,withfossils–dominantlytheoysterToucasiasp.–concentratedinshelllags.Gastropodsandammonitesarealsopresent.Someslabsareentirelydevoidoffossils,othersarepackedfullwiththem. ThemigmatiteVizagBlue,describedabove,isusedontheLowerLevelofthemallassupportsfortheescalatorsateachendofthemainconcourse.ItisalsousedforpavingontheUpperLeveloftheMall.Agoodplacetoseeitisneartotheinformationpointatthe‘Debenham’send’whereitisusedinlozenge-shapeddecorativepaving(below).Itisfoundherealongwithoneofitsassociatedrocks,agneissmarketedasOrissaBlue.TheEasternGhatsMobileBeltextendsthroughAndraPradeshintoOrissa(Odisha)State,paralleltothecoastoftheBayofBengal.OrissaBlueispalerincolourbutessentiallythesamemineralogy(andage)asVizagBlue.Texturallyitisdifferentanddistinctive,withlarge,brick-shapedporphyroblastsofplagioclasealignedinthegneissosematrix.Ittooisveryrichinredgarnets.

RossoTigratoisanothermetamorphicrock,thistimefromBrazil.Ithasatiger-stripedappearance,duetobeingcomposedofafinelybandedpinkandblackgneisswithnarrowinjectionsofgranitewhicharerotatedparalleltothefoliation.Thisstoneisagainusedindecorativepavinginthemall,mostnotablyintheroundelsateachendofthemainconcourseonthelowerlevel.Thisisanothermigmatite,a‘Juparana’



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withagraniticcomposition;thepinkcolourationbeingimpartedbypotassicfeldsparsandbiotiteasthemainmaficphase.ItisfromtheArchaeanSãoFranciscoCraton,quarriednearRuyBarbosainBahiaState.

Thestoneusedasthecentreofthisroundel(above)isVångaGranite,arichwine-redgranitefromSkåneinsouthernSweden.TheVångaPlutonisoneofasuiteof1.4GagranitesintrudedintotheBlekingeProvinceofMesoproterozoicmetasediments.Thegraniteisstronglydeformed,andthiscanbeseenfromtheelongated,redpotassicfeldsparsandintervening‘schlieren’ofblackbiotitemica.



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Thisisaverypopularstone,usedforcladdingbuildingsbutalsoforpavingbothinternallyandexternally.Itisextractableinlargeslabsandblocks,duetotheoutcrophavingasystemofwidelyspacedjoints.VångaisalsousedforthecylindricalseatsneartheLowerLevelexitfromtheMallontoSmallbrookQueenswayandtheBusStationoutsideGrandCentral. CinzaRajadoisalsonamedbyStoneCladdingInternationalasastoneusedhereintheMall.ThismarketingnameismainlyusedforaBrazilianmarblebutitisappliedheretoayellowandblackstripedgneisswhichisusedforareasofflooring.AgoodplacetoseethisisontheLowerLevelofthemall,outsideCostaCoffee.ThisisalmostcertainlyderivedfromBrazilandalmostcertainlyArchaeaninagebutitsoriginisunknown.‘Rajado’isPortuguesefor‘brindled’andthatiscertainlyagooddescriptionofthisstone(NB.‘cinza’meansgrey). Fromthewestern(Debenhams)endoftheBullring,alinkwayontheupperlevelleadsthroughtoGrandCentralMall.GoodslabsofYanaLimestoneareseeninthepavingofthisroute. GrandCentral&NewStreetStationThebuildingdevelopmentwhichencompassestheremodelledNewStreetrailwaystationanditsenclosingshoppingmall,GrandCentral,openedin2015.ItwasdesignedbyarchitecturefirmAZPML,headedupbyAlejandroZaera-PoloandMaiderLlaguno(Mairs,2015).Mostofthestructureissteelandplaster,withatetrafluoroethyleneplasticroof.Stonesareusedforpavingandprovideafeastforfossilspotters. Twocontrastingstonesareused,JuraMarbleandNeroMarquina.JuraMarbleisnotatruemarbleinthegeologicalsense,buttheterm‘marble’haslongbeenusedinthebuildingindustrytodescribeanycarbonaterockswhichtakeagoodpolish,regardlessofwhetherornottheyhavebeenmetamorphosed.Thisstoneisaniceexampleofapolishedlimestone.Itisareadilyavailableandrelativelycheapstone,andiscurrentlyverypopular,itcanbeseeninmanyshoppingmallsworldwide.ItisderivedfromGermanJurainCentralBavaria,intheAltmühltalNationalPark.ItbelongstotheLateJurassicTreuchtlingenFormationandhasmanywellpreservedfossils;ammonoidsandbelemnitesareverycommon,thebelemnitesareparticularlywell-preservedanddarkbrownincolour.TheTreuchtlingenseasweredominatedbyspongebiostromesandfossilsoftheseareveryabundantintherock,asmottled,brown,sometimesring-shapedstructures.Thesewerecolonizedbymillionsofcalcite-encrustedtubiphytewormsandthesecanbeseenasmillimeter-sizewhiteflecksthroughouttherock.

JuraMarble.Abelemniteandspongefossils,surroundedbytubiphytewormcasts.



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AblackSpanishlimestone,marketedasNeroMarquinaisalsousedhere.ThisisMid-CretaceousinageandcomesfromMarquina,intheBasquecountryofNESpain.LiketheJuraMarble,ittakesamirror-likepolish,muchenhancedbytheblacknessofthestone.Itisabituminouslimestonewithamicriticmatrix,butfossilsarepreservedaswhiteandincludefragmentsofrudistandotherbivalvesandcorals.Alsotheformationwasweaklydeformedandevidenceofthisareexcellent,conjugatesetsofenechelontensiongashes,infilledwithwhitecalcite,alongwithotherveins.Goodexamplesoftheseareseeninthe‘island’ofNeroMarquinaclosetotheentrancetothelinkwaytotheBullring,outsideCostaCoffee.

JulieattemptingthenearimpossibletaskofphotographingthehighlyreflectivesurfaceofNeroMarquina.

EnechelontensiongashesandrudistfossilsinNeroMarquinalimestone.



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OutsideNewStreetThemainstationconcoursewithitsgreyandwhitestripedpavingandthepedestrianareasaroundNewStreetandGrandCentralhavebeendesignedbyAtkinsLandscapeArchitects2015withstonecontractors,Hardscape.Asiscustomarythesedays,cheapandhardwearingChinesegranitesareusedforpaving,settsandkerbs.KobraGraniteisusedonthepaving,steps,plantersandbenches(manyofwhichdoubleupascounter-terrorismblockades)aroundtheexteriorofthestation.Thisisadarkgrey,fine-grainedmicro-granodiorite,composedofplagioclase,quartzandhornblende.ItisquarriednearChangleinFujianProvince.RoyalWhiteGraniteisalsousedforcontrastingpavingandkerbs.Itisapalegreygranite,coarsegrainedandcomposedofwhitefeldspars,greyquartzandbiotite,streakedwithverycoarse-grainedpegmatites(below).ItisquarriedfromPuninginGuangdongProvincetothesouthofFujian.BothofthesegranitesareassociatedwithaMesozoiccontinentalarccomplexwhichextendsalongthecontinentalmarginsofSEChina.NumerousseriesofgranitoidswereintrudedintothisregionduringtheCretaceous,between130-80Ma.SeveralofthesecoastalrangegranitesarequarriedandshippedoutoftheportofXiamen.

AfinaldetourfromtheshoppingmallsaroundNewStreetStation,takesusalongHillStreet,turningleftontoSmallbrookQueenswaytoHollowayCircus.ThisroundaboutfeaturesasmallparkcalledThomasGardens,butisbestknownfortheslightlyunexpectedlandmarkofaChinesepagoda.TheareacanbeaccessedfromunderpassesaroundtheCircus.HollowayCircusThepagodastandsasagifttotheCityofBirmingham,presentedin1998bytheownerofachainofChinesesupermarkets,WoonWingYipOBE.Chan(2005)interrogatesthephilosophyofthispagodaasagiftinaninterestingarticlewhichexploresboththeconceptsofgiftingandmulticulturalism,particularlyinBirminghamatatimeshortlyafterthereturnofHongKongtoChinabytheBritish,leavingmanyHongKongcitizensfeelingstateless.MrWingYipwasinspiredtodonatethepagodaafterdiscoveringthatAnthonyGormley’sIron:ManinVictoriasquarehadbeenagifttothecityfromtheTrusteeSavingsBankin1992.PagodasareassociatedwithBuddhistshrinesinChina,wheretheyactaswatchtowers,allowinga360°view.MrWingYipwasverykeentopointoutthatthepagodashouldnotbeseenasareligioussymbol,butitshouldbeasabeacononthisbusygatewaytothecitycentre.



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Standing40fthigh,thepagodaisconstructedofSilverGreyGranitewhichwasquarriedandworkedinFujian,SEChina,althoughsamplesofthestoneweresentinadvanceofconstructiontotheUKfortestingtheirload-bearingstrengthattheBirminghamIndustrialResearchLaboratories.SilverGreyGraniteisalsoknownunderthestandardChinesestonenomenclatureG603.Gstandingforgranite,and6representstheprovinceofFujian.Thisisatwo-micagranite,withwhitefeldsparsandgreyquartz.LikethestonesseenaroundNewStreetstation,thisisoneofthevoluminousplutonsintrudedintotheSEChinacontinentalmargin,duringthecollisionofaseriesofallochthonousterranesthroughouttheMesozoic.

ThesurroundinggardenswereoriginallyplantedwithplantsfoundinFujian.Anumberoflargebouldersofgraniteandgranitemigmatite(agranitethathasbeensuddenlyfrozenduringtheprocessofmelting)areusedasgardenornaments.The‘FuDragons’areofconcrete.References

BirminghamCityCouncil:Birmingham’sArchaeology;BeneaththeBullring.https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50064/birminghams_archaeology/971/beneath_the_bullring_the_origins_of_birmingham Chan,W.F.,2005,Agiftofapagoda,thepresenceofaprominentcitizenandthepossibilitiesofhospitality.EnvironmentandPlanningD:SocietyandSpace,23(1).pp.11-28.

Foster,A.,2007,Birmingham.PevsnerArchitecturalGuides.,YaleUniversityPress,Newhaven&London.,326pp.

GreatWesternArcade:http://www.greatwesternarcade.co.uk/about-gwa Hardscape,2015:http://www.hardscape.co.uk/news/birmingham-new-street-station-gateway-opens/



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Mairs,J.2015,AlejandroZaera-PoloupdatesBirmingham'sNewStreetstation.,Dezeen,https://www.dezeen.com/2015/09/29/grand-central-birmingham-new-street-station-uk-england-azpml-alejandro-zaera-polo/ Noszlopy,G.T.&Waterhouse,F.,2007,Birmingham:PublicSculptureTrails.,LiverpoolUniversityPress,Liverpool.,191pp.

Robinson,E.,1999,Birmingham:AGeologicalWalk,September1999.

Schroder,J.K.,Schroder,J.&Robinson,E.,2015,BuildingStonesDetectiveTrail.,UniversityofBirminghamLapworthMuseumofGeology.,2pp.

Shilston,P.,1994,BuildingStonesofBirminghamCityCentre,ESTAconferenceFieldWorkshopHandbook,BirminghamUniversity,BlackCountryGeologicalSociety;RevisedbyJulieSchroder2016.,7pp. Siddall,R.,Schroder,J.K.&Hamilton,L.,2016a,BuildingBirmingham:Atourinthreepartsofthebuildingstonesusedinthecitycentre;Part1:FromtheTownHalltotheCathedral.17pp.,http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/walks/Birmingham1-Centre.pdf Siddall,R.,Schroder,J.K.&Hamilton,L.,2016b,BuildingBirmingham:Atourinthreepartsofthebuildingstonesusedinthecitycentre.;Part2:CentenarySquaretoBrindleyPlace.,14pp.,http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/walks/Birmingham2-Brindleyplace.pdf

IndexofStonesandfurtherreading

BalmoralGranite(ThePavilions,HouseofFraser) Selonen,O.,Ehlers,K.,Luodes,H.&Karell,F.,2011,MagmaticconstraintsonlocalizationofnaturalstonedepositsintheVehmaarapakivigranitebatholith,southwesternFinland.,BulletinoftheGeologicalSocietyofFinland,Vol.83,25–39.BalticBrown(43TempleRow) Müller,A.,2007,RocksExplained1:RapakiviGranites.,GeologyToday,23(3),114-120.BathStone(GreatWesternArcade) King,A.,2011,Strategicstonestudy:abuildingstoneatlasofAvon.,EnglishHeritage.,25pp.http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/buildingStones/StrategicStoneStudy/EH_atlases.html BlackPearlBasalt(StMartin’sSquare) Li,L.M.,Sun,M.,Xing,F-M.,Zhao,G-C.,M.,Zhou,M-F,Wong,J.&Chen,R.,2009,TwolateMesozoicvolcaniceventsinFujianProvince:constraintsonthetectonicevolutionofsoutheasternChina,InternationalGeologyReview,51(3),216-251.BlaubrunGranite(CBRETempleRow,BullringMall) Zandstra,J.G.,1988NoordelijkekristallijneGidsgesteenten,VerlagE.J.Brill:http://www.skan-kristallin.de/index.htm BluePearlLarvikite(AlliedIrishBank,ColmoreGateto8ColmoreRow) Heldal,T.,Meyer,G.B.&Dahl,R.,2014,Globalstoneheritage:Larvikite,Norway.,in:Pereira,D.,Marker,B.

R.,Kramar,S.,Cooper,B.J.&Schouenborg,B.E.(Eds.)GlobalHeritageStone:TowardsInternationalRecognitionofBuildingandOrnamentalStones.GeologicalSociety,London,SpecialPublications,407,14pp.CarraraMarble(WHSmith,Rotunda) Price,M.T.,2007,DecorativeStone:TheCompleteSourcebook.ThamesandHudson,288pp.CinzaRajado(BullringMall) Noreferencesknown.CornishGranite(AlliedIrishBank) Simons,B.,Shail,R.K.,Andersen,J.C.Ø.,2016,ThepetrogenesisoftheEarlyPermianVariscangranitesoftheCornubianBatholith:Lowerplatepost-collisionalperaluminousmagmatismintheRhenohercynianZoneofSWEngland.,Lithos,260,76-94.Derbydene(Ryman’s,TempleStreet) Thomas,I.A.,2005,HoptonWoodStone-England’spremierdecorativestone.,in:England’sHeritageinStone:ProceedingsofaconferenceatTempestAndersonHall,York,15-17March2005.,EnglishStoneForum.90-105.FancyBeachWhitbed(CBRETempleRow) AlbionStone:http://www.albionstone.com GrinshillStoneStMartinintheBullRing Jenkinson,A.,2012,Strategicstonestudy:abuildingstoneatlasofShropshire.,EnglishHeritage.29pp.http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/buildingStones/StrategicStoneStudy/EH_atlases.html



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HautevilleLimestone(StMartinintheBullRing) Perrier,R.,LesrochescalcairesdeFrance,MinesetCarrières,LesTechniques,vol.75,LaPierreenFrance,54-69.JuparanaGneiss(TheMinories) Noreferencesknown.JuraMarble(GrandCentralMall) Keupp,H.,Koch,R.,Schweigart,G.&Viohl,G.,2007,GeologicalhistoryoftheSouthernFranconianAlb–theareaoftheSolnhofenLithographicLimestone.,NeuesJarbuchfurGeologie&PaläontologieAbhandlungen.,245,3–21.KobraGranite(NewStreetStation) Cui,J.,Zhang,Y.,Dong,S.,Jahn,B_M.,Xu,X.&Ma,L.,2013,ZirconU–PbgeochronologyoftheMesozoicmetamorphicrocksandgranitoidsinthecoastaltectoniczoneofSEChina:ConstraintsonthetimingofLateMesozoicorogeny.,JournalofAsianEarthSciences.,62,237–252. NeroMarquinaNeroMarquina(GrandCentralMall) Perrier,R.,1992,Lesrochesornamentalesd’Espagne.,MinesetCarrieres.,74,147-158.OrissaBlue(BullringMall) Kar,R.,2001,PatchycharnockitesfromJenapore,EasternGhatsgranulitebelt,India:Structuralandpetrochemicalevidencesattestingtotheirrelictnature.,ProceedingsoftheIndianAcademyofSciences(Earth&PlanetarySciences).,110(4),337-350.PorkkalaGranite(TheSquarePeg,TheMinories) Heinonen,A.P.,Andersen,T.&Rämö,O.T.,2010,Re-evaluationofRapakiviPetrogenesis:SourceConstraintsfromtheHfIsotopeCompositionofZirconintheRapakiviGranitesandAssociatedMaficRocksofSouthernFinland.,JournalofPetrology,51(8),1687-1709.RosaTramonto(TheWesleyan) RosaTramontoGranite:Cat.017606,DudleyMuseums;http://geologymatters.org.uk/collections/getrecord/DMUSE_017606/ RossoPorriño(TheSquarePeg) Villaseca,C.,Bellido,F.,Pérez-Soba,C.&Billström,K.,2009,Multiplecrustalsourcesforpost-tectonicI-typegranitesintheHercynianIberianBelt.,Mineralogy&Petrology,96,197-211.

RossoTigrato(BullringMall) Noreferencesknown.RoyalWhiteGranite(NewStreetStation) Cui,J.,Zhang,Y.,Dong,S.,Jahn,B_M.,Xu,X.&Ma,L.,2013,ZirconU–PbgeochronologyoftheMesozoicmetamorphicrocksandgranitoidsinthecoastaltectoniczoneofSEChina:ConstraintsonthetimingofLateMesozoicorogeny.,JournalofAsianEarthSciences.,62,237–252.SardinianGranite(AlliedIrishBank) Puccini,A.,Xhixha,G.,Cuccuro,S.,Oggiano,G.,Kaçeli-Xhixha,M.,Mantovani,F.,Alvarez,C.R.&Casini,L.,2014,RadiologicalcharacterizationofgranitoidoutcropsanddimensionstonesoftheVariscanCorsica-SardiniaBatholith.,EnvironEarthSci.,71,393–405.SilverGreyGranite(HollowayCircusPagoda) Cui,J.,Zhang,Y.,Dong,S.,Jahn,B_M.,Xu,X.&Ma,L.,2013,ZirconU–PbgeochronologyoftheMesozoicmetamorphicrocksandgranitoidsinthecoastaltectoniczoneofSEChina:ConstraintsonthetimingofLateMesozoicorogeny.,JournalofAsianEarthSciences.,62,237–252.SrikakulamBlue(BullringMall) Yamamoto,T.,Tani,Y.,Miyashita,Y.,Rao,A.T.&Yoshida,M.,1998,MigmatiteandGranulitesInthePatapatnam-Tekkaliarea,EasternGhats,India.,JournalofGeosciences,OsakaCityUniversity,41,123-142.TivoliTravertine(43TempleRow) Facenna,C.,Soligno,M.,Billi,A.,DeFilippis,L.,Funicello,R.,Rossetti,C.&Tuccimei,P.,2008,LatePleistocenedepositionalcyclesoftheLapisTiburtinustravertine(Tivoli,CentralItaly):Possibleinfluenceofclimateandfaultactivity.,GlobalandPlanetaryChange63,299–308.VangaGranite(BullringMall) Johansson,Å.,Bogdanova,S.&Cecys,A.,2006,ArevisedgeochronologyfortheBlekingeProvince,southernSweden.,GFF,Vol.128(4),287–302.YanaLimestone(BullringMall) Garcia,R.,Moreno-Bedmar,J.A.,Bover-Arnal,T.,Company,M.,Salas,R.,Latil,J-L.,Martin-Martin,J.D.,Gomez-Rivas,E.,Bulot,L.G.,Delanoy,G.,Martinez,R.&Grauges,A.,2014,LowerCretaceous(Hauterivian-Albian)ammonitebiostratigraphyintheMaestratBasin(ESpain).,JournalofIberianGeology40(1),99-112.



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AcknowledgementsThankstoNaomiStephensonforidentifyingthefossilTurrilitescostatusatStMartin’s. Howtocitethisarticle:Siddall,R.,Schroder,J.K.&Hamilton,L.,2017,BuildingBirmingham:Atourofthebuildingstonesusedinthecitycentre;Part3.Aroundtheshopsfromthe‘BackofRackham’s’totheBullring.19pp.

GrandCentralandNewStreetStationconcourse,withstripedpavingofKobraandRoyalWhiteGranites.

building birmingham: a tour in three parts of the building stones...

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