Explore Corsi's Stones

Identifying decorative stones

Many decorative stones look distinctive, and particular geological features can help confirm an identification. You can search the database by entering some terms that describe the geological features, colours and patterns that you see. Choose how you would like to view your results – as a list of stones, thumbnails of all the stones meeting your criteria, or as a gallery of larger images, fifty to a page. Compare your stone with the images to see if any match. You can then read about each stone sample to find out what Corsi wrote about it and what we know about it today.

For simple explanations of many of the geological terms that we use, together with a step-by-step ‘what to look for’ guide, see our tips for identifying decorative stone.

Not all stones are easy to recognise. They may need examination as thin sections under a petrological microscope, or use of other research instruments to obtain an accurate identification.

19^th century inlaid stone tabletop at the National Trust’s Farnborough Hall in Oxfordshire.