In a message dated 8/11/04 11:15:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:
"The neighbourhood was thought remote, and the house was built in a ghastly
greenish-yellow stone that the younger architects were beginning to employ as a
protest against the brownstone of which the uniform hue coated New York like
a cold chocolate sauce; but the plumbing was perfect."
Serpentine, I'd guess. A big deposit on the cliffs along the Hudson at
Hoboken.
I doubt that this is serpentinite.  For one thing, it is primarily green;
when used for tiles and monuments it is called Verde Antique.  Also, this
material is quite expensive.

I've seen some greenish-yellow sandstones used as dimension stone.  In fact,
good old "Ohio" sandstone (Berea Sandstone) has a greenish cast to it.  I
wouldn't use the term "ghastly " to describe them, but than I may not have the
dramatic talents of somebody with the first name "Edith."  Perish the thought...


Steve Stokowski
Stone Products Consultants
Building Products Microscopy
10 Clark St., Ste. A
Ashland, Mass. 01721-2145
508-881-6364 (ph. & fax)
http://members.aol.com/crushstone/petro.htm