Many types of stones are available such as basalt, marble, limestone, sandstone, quartzite, travertine, slate, gneiss, laterite, and granite which can be used as construction materials.
The stones used for building construction should be hard, durable, tough, and should be free from weathered soft patches of material, cracks, and other defects that are responsible for the reduction of strength and durability. Stones for construction purposes are obtained by quarrying from solid massive rocks.
Each type of stone lend itself to various construction applications based on its properties. For instance, certain types like basalt and granite have superior characteristic like high compressive strength and durability and hence employed in major construction works. However, there are stones that their characteristics (such low compressive strength and presence of deleterious materials in their constituents) makes them suitable for minor construction works for example gneiss. So, stones are used as building material and also for decorative purposes.