What is shell stone (schelpsteen)?
Shell stone (Dutch: schelpsteen, also klipsteen) is a natural stone quarried from hardened shell deposits along the coast of Suriname, around Paramaribo and in the Saramacca district. These deposits are called schelpritsen: long ridges of shells once laid down as beach ridges (cheniers). Where the shells are cemented together by lime and hard enough, blocks can be cut from them.
Shell stone that is hard enough for building is rare. Most material from the shell ridges is therefore used loose: crushed shell as a surface for roads and paths.
Application
In Suriname most houses were traditionally built of timber. Fortifications and important buildings, however, needed stone. Because bricks had to come from Europe (often as ballast in ships), builders used the shell stone that was available locally.
The best-known example is Fort Zeelandia in Paramaribo, whose walls consist partly of shell stone combined with brick. The fort is part of the historic inner city of Paramaribo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shell stone has also been used in restorations of the fort.
Points to consider:
- Porous: shell stone absorbs water. For repairs use a breathable lime mortar, never a hard cement mortar.
- Variable quality: hardness varies greatly from block to block. When restoring, select stones that match the existing work in hardness and appearance.
- Related material: it is similar to coquina, a shell limestone used in other coastal regions such as Florida.
Related Terms
- Natural stone
- Coquina
- Limestone
- Lime mortar
- Shell lime
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