Vindhyan Sandstone: a Crowning Glory of Architectonic Heritage from India

Sandstones belonging to the Vindhyan Supergroup (Proterozoic age) adorn several architectonic heritage structures in northern and north-western India. The Mesolithic Bhimbetika rock shelter, a UNESCO World Heritage site, represents the oldest record of its use by the pre-historic man. The Sanchi Stupas, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Tomb of Safdarjung, Agra Fort, Red Fort, Chittorgarh Fort, Buland Darwaza (gate) in Fatehpur Sikri and Jama Masjid, to name a few, are also heritage monuments built of Vindhyan sandstone. Most of these structures are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Central Secretariat, Parliament Building in Delhi and many more such buildings made with Vindhyan sandstone are some of the more popular architectonic heritage sites in the capital of India. These architectonic heritage structures still stand in their pristine form and bear testimony to the lasting endurance. Vindhyan sandstone, used extensively as dimension stone, is monomineralic in composition with chemically (acids and alkalis) resistant quartz as the dominant mineral. Vindhyan rocks include well-bedded, undeformed and unmetamorphosed sandstone, limestone and mudstone; however, the sandstone has been the most favoured stone for architectural (heritage) structures. Vindhyan sandstones exhibit a range of colours from dark red to brown, earthy buff, yellow, off-white to spotted types, etc. The most popular are the off-white varieties owing to their aesthetic appearance and resistance to weathering. Amongst all the stratigraphic units, the Vindhyan Supergroup alone is the major contributor of masonry sandstone reserves in India; the rocks are quarried throughout the Vindhyan Basin. The Vindhyan (Supergroup) sandstones are known by numerous local trade names, such as Agra Red/Pink, Dholpur Red/Pink/Beige and Bansi Pink. In modern times, Vindhyan sandstone has also been put to numerous other uses such as garden furniture, sculpturing, carving, floor tiling, paving and cladding, owing to its resistance to weathering and ease of workability. The current and/or curved bedding patterns, spots due to iron staining, further enhance appearance and demand of finished Vindhyan sandstone as dimension stone. It meets all the requisite criteria for according the status of a Global Heritage Stone Resource.