Story: Building stone

Volcanic stone wall (1st of 3)

Volcanic stone wall

Lava flows from the Port Hills have been widely used as building stone around Christchurch. This stone wall, outside St Barnabas Church in Fendalton, is typical. The inset shows the gas bubbles (vesicles) and white crystals of feldspar which had started to form the magma before it was erupted.

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Private collection
Photograph by Glen Coates

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How to cite this page:

Simon Nathan and Bruce Hayward, 'Building stone - Types of building stone', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8070/volcanic-stone-wall (accessed 7 May 2024)

Story by Simon Nathan and Bruce Hayward, published 12 Jun 2006