Stone-Ideas.com 
The Verona Stone District (Distretto Del Marmo e Pietra del Veronese) plans to do more business with the African markets and has commissioned a study. According to a report in the daily newspaper L‘Arena during Marmomac, the focus will be in particular on Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria. Kenya is also a priority target; near the capital Nairobi, a center for science, technology, and telecommunication is to be built by 2030. The aim of the stone association with around 600 companies between Verona and Vicenza is to join the government’s “Piano Mattei” (Mattei Plan) (Italian).
“Minerals used in cosmetics“ is the title of a report about how people used beauty lotions and makeup that was sometimes dangerous to health.
The McCord Steward Museum in Montreal, Canada, features the works sculptor Manasie Akpaliapik: “Inuit Universe“ is on show through March 09, 2025.
A massive rockslide in the Dickson Fjord on Greenland in September 2023 caused a seismic signal that was measured worldwide for several days. This shaking of our entire planet was linked to the thinning of a glacier, researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) found out.
Afghan stone exports: In five months, marble worth 6.1 million dollars, with a total weight of approximately 117,000 tons, has been exported to countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, India, Germany, Russia, Uzbekistan, China, Mexico, Pakistan, and others. 108 factories are operating in Kabul and Herat.
“Classic Auto Sandstone“ is the name of a watch from Swiss company Laurent Ferrier’s collection. The color of the dial emulates the layers of sedimentary stone.
Exploring Irish Traditional Vernacular is the theme of a blog of the British Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)
Video of the month: In September, the annual World Stone Skimming Championships were held on Easdale Island on the west coast of Scotland. The competition has been running since 1983, and in 2024, representatives from 20 countries took part. The rules are simple: The stones must come from the island, be less than three inches in diameter (about seven centimeters), and hit the water’s surface at least three times. This year‘s winner, Simon Power from Ireland, made 155 m. We will list the dates for the 2025 competition in our Calendar of Symposia/Festivals when available.
(16.10.2024, USA: 10.16.2024)