Publisher © Czech Geological Survey, ISSN: 2336-5757 (online), 0514-8057 (print)
Permocarboniferous sandstones in the outer block masonry of the gothic part of St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague
Abstract
According to available data, the following stones were used for the construction of block masonry of the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague: Mainly Cretaceous sandstones, more rarely the Carboniferous arkosic sandstones exploited near Kamenné Zehrovice W of Prague. Sporadically, the blocks of silicified marlstones (so-called opuka) from Petřín Hill near the Prague Castle were used. Eight blocks from atypic, red, relativelly soft Permo-carboniferous arkosic sandstones were now found in the outer masonry of the gothic part of the Cathedral.These blocks differ in colour, texture and structure from arkosic sandstones of Kamenné Zehrovice type. The provenance and period of use of this new type of dimension stones are discussed in this paper.
