Rottenstone

Description

A fine abrasive composed of powdered siliceous-argillaceous limestone. Rottenstone is composed of about 85% alumina, 4-15% silica and 5-10% iron oxides. It was primarily mined in England but small amounts were also mined in Pennsylvania. Rottenstone is used as a powder or adhered to polishing cloths. It is softer and finer than pumice. Applications include polishing metal, jewelry and wood.

Synonyms and Related Terms

rotten stone

Comparisons

Properties of Common Abrasives

Properties of Common Abrasives

Authority

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 824

• R.M.Organ, Design for Scientific Conservation of Antiquities, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 1968

• Conservation Support Systems, Catalog, 1997

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998