oq-gem

Glossary for gem taxonomy

Authors: Luke Allen, Andrew Charleson, Svetlana Brzev, and Charles Scawthorn

This online Glossary explains around 400 terms contained in the GEM Building Taxonomy v 2.0 and nearly 700 images.

The terms have been listed in alphabetical and numerical order. Text description of each term is accompanied by illustrations (photos and/or drawings) where possible.

We welcome contributions in the form of photographs or images, illustrating glossary terms. If you have any questions you can also contact us at buildingtaxonomy@globalquakemodel.org


Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed of sand grains typically (1/16 to 2 mm in diameter) that are cemented together. Sand-sized particles are generally composed of other rocks and minerals, such as feldspar, quartz, rock fragments, and clay.  The material cementing the sand grains can be silica,  calcium carbonate, or iron oxides. Depending on the composition of the sands and cement, the hardness of sandstone can vary.  Sandstone can be a variety of colours, but are typically grey, brown, yellow, and sometimes red, green, or white.

SPSA_Cyprus_Pomonis_1

A two-storey sandstone masonry building, West Cyprus (A. Pomonis)

SPSA_Canada_OjdrovicEng_1

SPSA_Canada_OjdrovicEn_2

Exterior walls built in Nepean sandstone, National Parliament Building Complex, Ottawa, Canada (Ojdrovic Engineering)

SPSA_Algeria_Farsi_1

Sandstone masonry walls in Ben-Daoud damaged in the 2010 earthquake, Algeria (M. Farsi)

SPSA_Algeria_Farsi_2

Sandstone masonry walls with timber reinforcement in Beni-Ourtilane damaged in the 2000 earthquake (M. Farsi)

SPSA_Pakistan_MMRafi_1

SPSA_Pakistan_MMRafi_2

Sandstone walls under construction, Pakistan (M.M. Rafi)

SPSA_Delhi_India_BrzevS_1SPSA_Delhi_India_BrzevS_2

Sandstone masonry construction, Bara Gumbad Mosque, New Delhi, India (S. Brzev)

SPSA_India_BrzevS_3

Sandstone construction, Sun Temple, Modhera, Gujarat, India (S. Brzev)

SPSA_Chile_Brzev_1

Sandstone exterior wall, Chile (S. Brzev)

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