(April 2012) For restoration of the Washington Monument in the US-Capital, billionaire David M. Rubenstein earmarked a 7,5 million US-$ donation to repair damages to government buildings caused by the August 2011 earth quake. The 170 m high obelisk is the tallest stone monument of the world. The lower third of the monument is lighter than the upper two thirds because the original marble was depleted during the lengthy construction period. The most recent question on the theme is whether the monument set during as a result of the earth quake. CNN reported on restoration to the capital’s National Cathedral.

Latest news: The 8th Mersem Congress, a meeting of international stone experts, will take place in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey on December 13-15, 2012. It is organized by the Afyon Kocatepe University and the TIMMOB-Chambers of Mining Engineers. A similar meeting is the Global Stone Congress in Borba, Portugal (July 16-20, 2012). Artistic stone miniatures by Martin und Oliver, two stone British stone masons and father and son. Geocentrum Polska is the name of a new institute in Poland dedicated to research on mining natural resources. Participants are the Polish Geological Institute as well as universities and private companies. Cave drawings were discovered by architects in no less than 40 sites in the Mexican state of Guanajuato (Spanish). Setting up an interprovincial innovation centre for the marble industry was decided by the provinces Lucca und Massa Carrara (Italian 1, 2).

„World Wide Natural Stone Association (WWNSA) needs a new logo“ is the title of a fictitious competition by a commercial agency for designers.