(ii) Aberdeenshire granite The principal area in Scotland for granite building stone was Aberdeenshire. Both grey and pink granites were worked. Photographs shown here of Rubislaw, Kernnay and Corrennie Quarries were all taken in 1939. Perhaps the most famous granite quarry ("the deepest hole in Europe") Rubislaw was one of many working the Aberdeen Granite Mass. It supplied Aberdeen and the world with building and monumental stone. The grey, muscovite-biotite granite was also used for setts, kerbs and as chips for concrete. Opened in 1741, it takes the form of a huge oval pit with a smaller pit on the floor. This form was typical of many of the Aberdeenshire workings due mainly to the thickness of the overburden and poor qualities of the surface layers of rock. Thus, after sufficient area was opened up, expansion of quarries took place downwards. This led to the development, more than in any other part of the country, of cableways, or
'blondins' to bring the rock to the surface. Blondins were invented by John Fyfe and first used at his quarry at Kemnay (see below) in 1873. Legend has it that he was inspired to design the 'blondin' having seen a ropeway which carried mail across the River Dee at Abergeldie Castle. He named his invention after Charles Blondin the alias of the French tight-ropewalker, Jean Fran~ois Gravelet (1824-97). The Kemnay Quarries also worked grey granite which was used in dock works and major buildings. Kemnay No.1 Quarry was started in 1858. Adjacent to it and at a higher level, No.2 was opened in 1868. Building stone, setts and kerbs were produced beside the quarry but the best quality material was sent to Aberdeen for cutting and polishing for monumental work. Corrennie Quarries worked two colours of granite, the pink variety providing large blocks for buildings, ornamental and monumental use. The grey granite was used more for crushed stone.
Rubislaw Quarry, Aberdeen (C3740), 1939 This photograph shows the pit-like form of the quarry which, in 1939, was 122m deep. Three 'blondins' were employed at Rubislaw: 'blondin' wires can be seen stretched across the opening. The most powerful was capable of handling 20 tons. Reproduced by permission of the Director, British Geological Survey. 8 NERC. All rights reserved.