Lithographic Limestone
Encyclopedia
Lithographic limestone is hard limestone
that is sufficiently fine-grained, homogeneous and defect free to be used for lithography
. Geologists use the term lithographic texture to refer to a grain size under 1/250 mm. The term sublithographic is sometimes used for homogeneous fine-grained limestone with a somewhat coarser texture.
and anoxic lagoons. The combination of mild hypersalinity and low oxygen content is believed to have inhibited the formation of microbial mat
s and prevented the invasion of bottom dwelling organisms. Microbial mats and bottom dwelling organisms would have left fossils, and bottom dwelling organisms would have churned the accumulating sediment, producing a less homogeneous rock. Stagnancy was required to avoid churning or sculpting of the sediment by currents or wave action.
named after the quarries of Solnhofen
where it was first found. This is a late Jurassic
deposit, part of a deposit of plattenkalk (a very fine-grained limestone that splits into thin plates, usually Micrite
) that extends through the Swabian Alb
and Franconian Alb
in Southern Germany
. Only a small fraction of plattenkalk is suitable for lithography.
For many years, the Solnhofen deposits were the only source of lithographic limestone. French
lithographic limestone from quarries near Montdardier
, about 6 km south of le Vigan, Gard was exhibited at the Great Exhibition
of 1851, where it earned an honorable mention. This stone is from the upper Lias Group
, from the early Jurassic
. The largest lithographic printing stone ever quarried came from Le Vigan, 230x150cm (90x59 in). Théophile Steinlen
used a comparable stone for some of his posters. Several quarries are visible today on the chalky plateau above Montdardier, between 2 km north (43°56′54.46"N 3°35′3.44"E), and 2 km west (43°55′52.61"N 3°33′38.78"E) of the town.
Shortly before 1867, a second lithographic limestone quarry was opened in France
near Cerin and Crey, Isère
(45°46′45.77"N 5°33′14.06"E). The lithographic limestones of Cerin are from the Kimmeridgian
stage of the Upper Jurassic, and as with the Solnhofen deposits, they preserve numerous interesting fossils.
Lithographic limestone from the Lower Cretaceous has been quarried near Santa Maria de Meià on the south flank of the Serra del Montsec
in Spain. In 1902, L. M. Vidal, a mining engineer, recognized the importance of the fossils found there.
in late 1868. It initially focused its operation on quarries in Overton County, Tennessee, but shortly before 1900, it opened a quarry at Brandenburg, Kentucky
. This quarry was the only commercial source of lithographic stone in the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Unlike the Solnhofen stone, Kentucky lithographic limestone was slightly dolomitic, and it was judged to be competitive with Solnhofen stone for some purposes, but not for the highest quality work. This stone source was sub-Carboniferous (Mississipian). In 1917, the Brandenburg quarry was judged the most important source of Lithographic stone in the United States. Prior to 1916, the output of the Brandenburg quarry was small, but in 1916, as World War I
cut off access to Solnhofen stone, the quarry produced 20 tons of finished lithographic stone. The Remains of the Brandenburg Lithograph Quarry are located along the Buttermilk Falls Historic Walking Trail (38°0′3.54"N 86°9′34.74"W).
In 1903, Clement L. Webster discovered a bed of lithographic limestone about 2 miles southwest of Orchard, Iowa
. His company, the Interstate Investment & Development Company platted a town named Lithograph City nearby and opened a quarry (43°11′38.2"N 92°48′59.52"W). The Lithograph City Formation of the Cedar Valley Group straddles the border between the Middle and Late Devonian
and was named for its exposure in this quarry. Outcrops of this formation extend from near Cedar Falls, Iowa
north into Minnesota
. The suitability of Lithograph City limestone for lithography was tested by A. B. Hoen
who reported that stone from two layers in the Lithograph City quarry was excellent for lithography and finer grained than the finest Solnhofen stone. Lithograph City was an important source of lithographic stone in the United States during World War I, but the quarries closed as metal printing plates replaced stone. In 1918, the Devonian Products Company took over the operation, focusing on the production of crushed rock and renaming the town Devonia. By 1938, the town had disappeared.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
that is sufficiently fine-grained, homogeneous and defect free to be used for lithography
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
. Geologists use the term lithographic texture to refer to a grain size under 1/250 mm. The term sublithographic is sometimes used for homogeneous fine-grained limestone with a somewhat coarser texture.
Origin
The generally accepted theory for the origin of lithographic and sublithographic limestones is that they were formed in shallow stagnant hypersalineHypersaline lake
A hypersaline lake is a landlocked body of water that contains significant concentrations of sodium chloride or other mineral salts, with saline levels surpassing that of ocean water . Specific microbial and crustacean species thrive in these high salinity environments that are otherwise...
and anoxic lagoons. The combination of mild hypersalinity and low oxygen content is believed to have inhibited the formation of microbial mat
Microbial mat
A microbial mat is a multi-layered sheet of micro-organisms, mainly bacteria and archaea. Microbial mats grow at interfaces between different types of material, mostly on submerged or moist surfaces but a few survive in deserts. They colonize environments ranging in temperature from –40°C to +120°C...
s and prevented the invasion of bottom dwelling organisms. Microbial mats and bottom dwelling organisms would have left fossils, and bottom dwelling organisms would have churned the accumulating sediment, producing a less homogeneous rock. Stagnancy was required to avoid churning or sculpting of the sediment by currents or wave action.
Europe
The original source for lithographic limestone was the Solnhofen LimestoneSolnhofen limestone
The Solnhofen Plattenkalk is a Jurassic Konservat-Lagerstätte that preserves a rare assemblage of fossilized organisms, including highly detailed imprints of soft bodied organisms such as sea jellies...
named after the quarries of Solnhofen
Solnhofen
Solnhofen is a municipality in the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen in the region of Franconia in the Land of Bavaria in Germany. It lies within the Altmühl valley....
where it was first found. This is a late Jurassic
Late Jurassic
The Late Jurassic is the third epoch of the Jurassic Period, and it spans the geologic time from 161.2 ± 4.0 to 145.5 ± 4.0 million years ago , which is preserved in Upper Jurassic strata. In European lithostratigraphy, the name "Malm" indicates rocks of Late Jurassic age...
deposit, part of a deposit of plattenkalk (a very fine-grained limestone that splits into thin plates, usually Micrite
Micrite
Micrite is a limestone constituent formed of calcareous particles ranging in diameter up to 4 μm formed by the recrystallization of lime mud.The term was coined in 1959 by Robert Folk for his carbonate rock classification system...
) that extends through the Swabian Alb
Swabian Alb
The Swabian Alps or Swabian Jura is a low mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, extending 220 km from southwest to northeast and 40 to 70 km in width. It is named after the region of Swabia....
and Franconian Alb
Franconian Jura
The Franconian Jura is an upland in Bavaria, Germany. Located between two rivers, the Danube in the south and the Main in the north, its peaks reach elevations of up to .Large portions of the Franconian Jura are part of the Altmühl Valley Nature Park...
in Southern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Only a small fraction of plattenkalk is suitable for lithography.
For many years, the Solnhofen deposits were the only source of lithographic limestone. French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
lithographic limestone from quarries near Montdardier
Montdardier
Montdardier is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-Sights:*The castle in neo-gothic style*La Tude massif*The churchSeveral quarries above Montdardier were formerly important sources of lithographic limestone...
, about 6 km south of le Vigan, Gard was exhibited at the Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations or The Great Exhibition, sometimes referred to as the Crystal Palace Exhibition in reference to the temporary structure in which it was held, was an international exhibition that took place in Hyde Park, London, from 1 May to 15 October...
of 1851, where it earned an honorable mention. This stone is from the upper Lias Group
Lias Group
The Lias Group or Lias is a lithostratigraphic unit found in a large area of western Europe, including the British Isles, the North Sea, the low countries and the north of Germany...
, from the early Jurassic
Early Jurassic
The Early Jurassic epoch is the earliest of three epochs of the Jurassic period...
. The largest lithographic printing stone ever quarried came from Le Vigan, 230x150cm (90x59 in). Théophile Steinlen
Théophile Steinlen
Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, frequently referred to as just Steinlen , was a Swiss-born French Art Nouveau painter and printmaker....
used a comparable stone for some of his posters. Several quarries are visible today on the chalky plateau above Montdardier, between 2 km north (43°56′54.46"N 3°35′3.44"E), and 2 km west (43°55′52.61"N 3°33′38.78"E) of the town.
Shortly before 1867, a second lithographic limestone quarry was opened in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
near Cerin and Crey, Isère
Isère
Isère is a department in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Dauphiné...
(45°46′45.77"N 5°33′14.06"E). The lithographic limestones of Cerin are from the Kimmeridgian
Kimmeridgian
In the geologic timescale, the Kimmeridgian is an age or stage in the Late or Upper Jurassic epoch or series. It spans the time between 155.7 ± 4 Ma and 150.8 ± 4 Ma . The Kimmeridgian follows the Oxfordian and precedes the Tithonian....
stage of the Upper Jurassic, and as with the Solnhofen deposits, they preserve numerous interesting fossils.
Lithographic limestone from the Lower Cretaceous has been quarried near Santa Maria de Meià on the south flank of the Serra del Montsec
Serra del Montsec
The Serra del Montsec is a mountain system of the Pre-Pyrenees.-Description:The Serra del Montsec consists of a series of calcareous mountain ranges. Runs from east to west, it is about 40 km long and 186.96 square kilometres in area...
in Spain. In 1902, L. M. Vidal, a mining engineer, recognized the importance of the fossils found there.
The Americas
The American Lithographic Stone Company was organized in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
in late 1868. It initially focused its operation on quarries in Overton County, Tennessee, but shortly before 1900, it opened a quarry at Brandenburg, Kentucky
Brandenburg, Kentucky
Brandenburg is a city in Meade County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,049 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Meade County.-History:...
. This quarry was the only commercial source of lithographic stone in the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Unlike the Solnhofen stone, Kentucky lithographic limestone was slightly dolomitic, and it was judged to be competitive with Solnhofen stone for some purposes, but not for the highest quality work. This stone source was sub-Carboniferous (Mississipian). In 1917, the Brandenburg quarry was judged the most important source of Lithographic stone in the United States. Prior to 1916, the output of the Brandenburg quarry was small, but in 1916, as World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
cut off access to Solnhofen stone, the quarry produced 20 tons of finished lithographic stone. The Remains of the Brandenburg Lithograph Quarry are located along the Buttermilk Falls Historic Walking Trail (38°0′3.54"N 86°9′34.74"W).
In 1903, Clement L. Webster discovered a bed of lithographic limestone about 2 miles southwest of Orchard, Iowa
Orchard, Iowa
Orchard is a city in Mitchell County, Iowa, United States. The population was 88 at the 2000 census.-History:The ghost town of Lithograph City, about 2 miles southwest of Orchard, was founded in the early 1900s adjacent to quarries that produced lithographic limestone. Production in these quarries...
. His company, the Interstate Investment & Development Company platted a town named Lithograph City nearby and opened a quarry (43°11′38.2"N 92°48′59.52"W). The Lithograph City Formation of the Cedar Valley Group straddles the border between the Middle and Late Devonian
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
and was named for its exposure in this quarry. Outcrops of this formation extend from near Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 39,260 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 36,145 population in the 2000 census...
north into Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. The suitability of Lithograph City limestone for lithography was tested by A. B. Hoen
A. Hoen & Co.
A. Hoen & Co. was a Baltimore, Maryland-based lithography firm founded by Edward Weber in the 1840s as E. Weber & Company. When August Hoen took it over following Weber's death, he changed the name and built the company into one of the most prominent in the industry at the time.In 1877, Hoen...
who reported that stone from two layers in the Lithograph City quarry was excellent for lithography and finer grained than the finest Solnhofen stone. Lithograph City was an important source of lithographic stone in the United States during World War I, but the quarries closed as metal printing plates replaced stone. In 1918, the Devonian Products Company took over the operation, focusing on the production of crushed rock and renaming the town Devonia. By 1938, the town had disappeared.