This document discusses building stones used for construction. It defines building stones as those suitable for structures like retaining walls, abutments, dams, and roads. Building stones must have strength and durability. Stones are classified as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic based on their formation. Common building stones include marble, granite, sandstone, limestone, chalk and laterite. Properties like hardness and durability depend on a stone's mineral composition and resistance to weathering. Stones are obtained from rocks through quarrying and are used in construction in various forms such as rubble, dimension stone, flagstone and crushed stone.