INTERNATIONALLY SUPPORTED HERITAGE STONE DESIGNATION: A PROGRESS REPORT

At the 34th International Geological Congress in 2012, the International Union of Geological Sciences established the Heritage Stone Task Group (HSTG) with a purpose of facilitating formal designation of those natural stones that have achieved widespread recognition in human culture.

Furthermore HSTG has an objective to create the formal “Global Heritage Stone Resource” (GHSR) designation as an internationally recognised geological standard that will promote the adoption and use of heritage stone designation by international and national authorities.

The intent of designating natural stones arises from the value of:

1. Promoting increased community, national and international awareness of natural stone and its widespread utilisation in human culture.
2. Gaining additional professional recognition for, and understanding of natural stone amongst professional workers, primarily in geology, engineering, architecture, archaeology and stone/building conservation.
3. Safeguarding and protecting heritage stone resources from subsequent sterilisation by alternative human endeavour.
4. Raising the profile of many natural stone materials to greater prominence through researching GHSR and GHSP citations.
5. Offering a means or mechanism, operating on a worldwide basis, to formalise selected characteristics of natural stone material, for professional purposes and otherwise, in an internationally accepted context.
6. Enhancing international co-operation in the research and utilisation of natural stone resources.

During its short history, as well as during its earlier gestation period HSTG has been very active in:

• Establishing a network of international correspondents.
• Developing Check Lists of necessary heritage stone properties.
• Organising at least one major international conference per calendar year.
• Publishing two volumes of research papers that provide suitable models for GHSR nominations.
• Gaining support funding as a project of the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP 637).
• Providing formal international approval of Portland Stone (UK) as the first “Global Heritage Stone Resource”

This is the first time HSTG has met in association with a major conference in North America.

It is our hope that this will be first of many meetings here that will feature heritage stone designation.